ORIGIN  OF  MAN, 


A TREATISE  OF 


ANGELS,  DEVILS  AND  MEN, 

AND  A COMPENDIUM  OF 


WHICH  IS  AN  ANSWER  TO  THE  QUESTION; 


WHAT  IS  MAN? 


WITH  NOTES  ON 


SPIRITUALISM,  DARWINIANISM,  ETC. 


What  is  man— whence  his  origin  ? 

This  question  long  the  world  has  vexed  ; 
Answers  many  have  been  given, 

Of  which  you  here  have  the  two  last ; 
Darwin’s  is  an  improved  monkey ! 

From  Afric’s  wild  and  torrid  coast, 

And  ours,  which  is  far  more  likely, 

'I'hat  we  are  of  the  Angels  Lost. 


BY  JAMES  P.  SIMMONS, 

Now  of  Noroross,  G&.. 


ATLANTA,  GEORGIA  : 

THE  HERALD  BOOK  AND  JOB  PRINT. 
1873. 


PRICE  TWENTY-FIVE  CENTS. 


The  original  work  of  which  this  is  a com- 
pendhim,  contains  pages  8vo.. , printed  on 
fine  tinted  paper,  and  is  neatly  bound  in  cloth. 
It  is  sold  by 

CLAXTON,  REMSEN  & HAFEELFINGER, 

Philadelphia,  and  can  be  foiind  at  PHILLIPS 
& CRE  J'V'  S,  Atlanta,  Ga. , and  at  book  stoi'cs 
generally.  Price,  $i.po. 


ORIGIN  OF  MAN 


A TREATISE  OF 

t 

ANGELS,  DEVILS  AND  MEN, 


AND  A COMPENDIUM  OF 


WHICH  IS  AN  ANSWER  TO  THE  QUESTION: 

What  is  Man?' 

WITH  NOTES  ON 


SPIRITUALISM,  DARWINIANISM,  ETC. 


“ Ye  laiow  not  what  manner  of  spirit  ye  are  of.”  Luke  ix  : 55. 

“ I will  utter  llimgs  which  have  been,  kept  secret  from  the  foundation  of  the  world.” 

Mat.  xrii:  35. 


BY  JAMES  P.  SIMMONS, 

Now  of  Noroross,  Ga. 


ATLANTA,  GEORGIA  : 

THE  HERALD  BOOK  AND  JOB  PRINT. 
1873. 


1 1 ■ I , , ■>  ■ 1 . j 


's 


: > 


'»/  ' ' 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2017  with  funding  from 
Duke  University  Libraries 


https://archive.org/details/originofmantreatOOsimm 


Ca/C 


PREFACE. 


« 

The  theory  of  our  being,  which  War  in  Heaven  pre- 
sents, is  so  different  from  the  opinion  usually  entertained 
by  the  Christian  world  of  this  age,  that,  although  it  is  com- 
paratively a small  book,  it  has  not  had  a sufficient  reading 
to  attract  general  attention  to  the  theory  therein  submitted. 

By  this  Compendium,  it  is  designed  to  furnish  a brief 
summary  of  the  leading  propositions  contained  in  that 
work,  with  references  to  a few  (and  comparatively  only  a few) 
of  the  many  Scriptural  authorities  on  which  the  writer  has 
founded  his  answer  to  the  grave  question,  “ WJiat  is  Man  ?” 

That  is  the  question  on  which  the  whole  science  of  the- 
ology hinges  ! Without  knowing  what  we  are,  or  why  we 
are  here,  we  can  never  arrive  at  any  satisfactory  07'  safe  con- 
clusion as  to  the  true  interpretation  of  the  most  important 
revelations  as  to  God’s  dealings  with  us,  both  here  and 
hereafter.  Whether  the  soul  is  created  when  the  body  is 
born,  as  held  by  the  Catholic  Church ; or  propagated  by 
and  from  the  parents,  with  and  as  the  body  is,  as  Protest- 
ants generally  suppose ; or  whether  the  soul  is  the  man, 
and  was  created,  lived  and  sinned  before  this  world  was 
made,  as  the  pious  Jew  and  heathen  philosopher  alike  be- 
lieved, are  que.stions  which  demand,  and  should  receive, 
the  most  careful  and  serious  consideration  of  all  who  ex- 
pect to  stand  in  judgment  at  the  great  day  of  retribution. 

The  sole  purpose  sought  to  be  accomplised  by  the  pub- 
lication of  this  pamphlet,  is  to  direct  the  attention  of  those 
who  think  for  themselves,  and  love  the  truth,  in  a brief 
way,  to  that  theory  of  our  nature — origin  and  destiny — 
which  the  writer  believes  to  be  the  correct  one ; and  which 
indicates  the  only  battle  ground  on  which  Christianity,  in 


4 


PREFACE. 


tlii.s  advanced  age,  can  successfully  meet  the  disciplined 
hosts  of  infidelity. 

And  this  is  done  with  a devout  wish  and  humble  hope 
that  a careful  reading  of  these  few  pages  may  and  will, 
awaken  such  desire,  in  the  minds  of  many,  to  know  more 
of  themselves  and  of  their  associates  in  sin  as  will  lead 
them  to  a far  more  thorough  investigation  of  the  mystical 
revelations  which  God  has  made  to  man,  and  which  were, 
as  it  is  manifest,  intended  to  be  more  perfectly  understood, 
after  the  ascension  of  Messiah,  than  was  permitted  before 
that  period. 


f 


ORIGIN  OF  MAN. 


SECTION  I. 

Introductory — The  Soul  is  the  Man — Value  of  the  Question — 

Discrepancies  in  our  Creed — Infidelity — Spiritualism,  etc. 

Cui  bono  ? It  has  been  asked — what  practical  good  can 
result  from  an  investigation  of  questions  relating  to  the 
origin  of  our  race  ? It  is  said — we  have  souls  which  must 
be  saved  or  lost,  and  it  is  immaterial  when,  or  how  they 
originated.  Such  reasoning  is  not  only  superficial,  but  it 
is  irreverent  to  God,  and  delusive  and  damning  to  man. 

We  are  commanded  to  “search  the  Scriptures,”  and  no- 
tified that  “If  the  blind  lead  the  blind,  both  shall  fail  into 
the  ditch.”  Let  us  not  be  of  those  who  “believe  a lie, 
that  they  may  be  damned. 

It  is  not  true  that  " we  hai'c  souls."  Such  idea  is  decep- 
tive and  dangerous.  We  have  bodies.  The  soul — the 
mind — the  spirit — is  the  man,  and  each  has  a body,  and 
which  is  occupied  while  we  live  here,  merely  as  a tenement. 
The  bodies  of  men  are  but  “houses  of  clay."  (Jobiv;  19.) 
“Our  earthly  house  of  this  tabernacle,”  (2  Cor.  v:  i)  and 
which  we  must  “shortly  put  off”  (2  Pet.  i:  14.) 

Is  it  not  material  to  us,  whether  we  are  the  creatures  of 
an  all-wise  and  perfect  Creator,  and  who  will  hold  us  to 
strict  account  for  our  conduct  while  here,  or  whether  we 
owe  our  being  to  blind  chance  ! and  have  been  evolved  from 
the  lowest  order  of  animal  life  ! Is  it  a matter  of  little  con- 
sequence to  us,  whether  the  Bible  is  true  or  false!  Will 
any  sane  Christian,  and  especially  one  who  professes  to 


6 


ORIGIN  OF  MAN. 


have  been  called  by  the  Holy  Spirit  to  the  sacred  work  of 
the  gospel  ministry,  say  that  any  fact  is  unimportant  which 
tends  to  sustain  the  Christian  theory  of  religion  against 
modern  infidelity?  If  there  lives  such  an  one,  he  is  not 
better  than  wolf  in  sheep's  clothing!" 

And  now  my  Christian  friend,  pardon  me  in  saying  that 
we  cannot  successfully  defend  our  holy  religion,  against  the 
assaults  which  are  made  upon  it  daily,  by  learned  men  who 
lead  the  infidel  hosts,  until  we  go  back,  review  our  Bible 
and  learn  to  answer  the  question  correctly,  ‘ ‘ What  is  Man  ?" 
And  we  must  abandon  our  present  unphilosophical,  un- 
scriptural  and  erroneous  notions,  about  the  origin  of  our 
race,  and  in  reference  to  the  Divine  purposes  which  brought 
us  into  this  world. 

There  are  discrepancies  in  our  theory — weak  points  in 
the  walls  of  our  fortification  which  must  be  detected — the 
bad  materiel  removed,  and  that  which  is  good,  sound  and 
true,  put  in  its  place  before  we  can  present  an  impregna- 
ble barrier  between  our  citadel  and  the  wily  foe.  And  for 
the  benefit  of  such  as  are  not  fully  informed  of  the  vantage 
ground  at  present  occupied  by  the  enemy,  attention  is  here 
called  to  some  of  the  most  obvious  inconsistencies  in  our 
system ; and  which  but  for  the  sustaining  energy  of  the 
Holy  Spirit,  would  long  since  have  rendered  powerless  and 
absolutely  disarmed  the  best  drilled  and  most  valliant  '"sol- 
diers of  the  Cross." 

It  is  believed  and  held  by  Christians  generally,  both  Cath- 
olic and  Protestant: 

1.  That  there  is  an  omnipotent,  omnicient,  omnipresent 
and  very  merciful  God,  who  created  all  things,  and  who 
reigns  supreme  over  all  his  rational  creatures. 

2.  That  he  made  our  common  parents  pure  and  holy — 
placed  them  in  Eden — gave  them  a law,  and  which  they 
violated  and  fell,  under  the  course  of  that  law. 

3.  That  Satan,  who  had  been  cast  out  of  heaven  for  sin 
and  rebellion  there,  is  the  same  evil  spirit  that  entered  that 


ORIGIN  OF  MAN. 


7 


sacred  place,  and  in  like  manner,  deceived  and  betrayed 
Adam  and  Eve  into  sin. 

4.  That  the  soul  of  man  is  immortal — that  there  will  be 
a general  resurrection  and  final  judgment,  and  that  the  re- 
deemed of  the  Lord  will  thence  be  taken  up  to  heaven, 
and  all  others  sent  down  to  hell. 

5.  And  it  is  believed  by  most  Protestants  (and  the  Cath- 
olic opinion,  as  to  the  origin  of  the  soul  and  original  sin, 
affords  them  no  relief  in  this  respect,)  that  we  have  de- 
scended, soul  and  body  alike  and  together,  from  our  pa- 
rents— have  inherited  our  depraved  and  sinful  nature  from 
them,  and  as  a consequence  of  the  temptation  and  fall  in 
Eden ; and  that  all  who  live  to  mature  years  and  do  not 
seek  and  find  pardon  through  Jesus  Christ,  will  be  driven 
away  “into  everlasting  fire  prepared  for  the  devil  and  his 
angels.  ” 

Though  brief,  this  is  believed  to  be  a fair  statement  of 
the  popular  Christian  belief,  of  this  age,  on  the  points  men- 
tioned. And  all  of  which,  except  as  to  the  nature  and  or- 
igin of  the  soul,  and  the  effect  of  the  fall  upon  us,  the 
writer  feels  well  satisfied  are  true,  and  fully  sustained  by 
the  word  of  God. 

Now,  Christian  reader,  answer  the  following  questions  to 
your  satisfaction,  and  on  the  idea  that  you  had  no  being 
before  this  life : 

1.  Why  was  Satan  permitted  to  enter  Eden,  and  there 
to  deceive,  beguile  and  ruin  that  hitherto  pure,  confiding 
and  happy  pair?  Could  not  God  have  prevented  it? 
Then,  why  was  it  allowed?  Remember  that,  according  to 
our  theory,  God  knew  beforehand  just  what  Satan  would 
do  if  not  restrained;  that  He  was  present,  could  have  pre- 
vented it,  but  did  not.  Hozu  was  all  that? 

2.  Admit  that  in  some  way  unknown  to  us,  (but  which 
cannot  be  true)  Satan  out-generaled  his  Creator  on  that  oc- 
casion, and  secretly  crept  into  Eden  and  in  one  night, 
spoiled  His  whole  week’s  work,  when  God  entered  His 


8 


ORIGIN  OF  MAN. 


garden  next  morning,  and  learned  (?)  what  had  been  done, 
why  did  He  not  pardon  the  sin  of  Adam  and  Eve?  They 
repented,  confessed  and  believed,  did  they  not  ? We  hope 
for  pardon  on  such  terms,  do  we  not?  And  was  it  denied 
them?  “God  is  Love,”  He  loved  them  as  His  own  crea- 
tures, made  in  His  own  image ; Satan  was  His  enemy. 
How  easy  and  natural  it  would  have  been  for  such  a Crea- 
tor, on  that  morning  of  grief  and  woe,  to  have  spoken 
kind  words  to  his  sorrowing  creatures,  such  as:  “Peace  be 
still.  Thy  sin,  though  great,  is  freely  forgiven  thee ; go 
and  sin  no  more.” 

In  that  way  (if  the  case  had  been  as  supposed)  “the 
works  of  the  devil  ” could  have  been  destroyed  at  once. 
And  then,  would  not  our  whole  race  been  as  pure  and  holy 
as  our  progenitors  were,  when  pronounced  ''very  good?” 
Who  will  say  that  sin  was  not  pardoned  ? I would  not  so 
say  for  all  the  good  this  world  can  give ! 

3.  If  there  was  a divine  law  which  forbid  such  pardon, 
(but  that  could  not  have  been)  would  it  not  have  been  bet- 
ter to  have  destroyed  that  pair,  or  to  have  rendered  them 
barren,  and  made  another,  to  become  the  progenitors  of 
such  a family  of  eternal  spirits? 

4.  If  eternal  wisdom  saw  fit  not  to  pardon,  destroy  or 
make  them  barren,  would  eternal  justice  require  that  we, 
who  had  no  existence  till  near  six  thousand  years  thereaf- 
ter, should  be  held  to  such  fearful  account  for  that  trans- 
gression ? If  not  then  in  being,  of  course  we  did  not  cause 
the  deed  to  be  done,  nor  could  we  have  prevented  it,  could 
we  ? Then  would  eternal  mere}"  have  permitted  our  whole 
race  to  have  been  so  exposed  to  the  torments  of  hell — 
there  to  burn  and  writhe  and  shriek  in  pain  forever — all  for 
that  one  sin,  and  which  we  did  not  commit,  and  could  not 
prevent  ? Would  a God  possessing  all  power  and  wisdom 
and  mercy  so  deal  with  his  unoffending  and  helpless  crea- 
tures ? He  most  assuredly  would  not ! And  would  not 
such  treatment,  of  His  own  creatures,  be  more  befitting  a 
cruel  fiend  than  a mercifid  God? 


ORIGIN  OF  MAN. 


9 


5.  Now  let  us  pass  from  original  sin  and  its  consequences, 
and  notice  the  sins  of  this  life,  actually  committed  by  our- 
selves, and  their  punishment.  Is  it  reasonable  that  a God 
of  great  compassion  and  tender  mercy  toward  all  His  ra- 
tional creatures,  would  punish  the  worst  sinner  that  ever 
lived  eternally  for  the  sins  of  this  life?  Just  think  of  eter- 
nity, and  compare  it  to  the  life  of  Methuselah.  The  term 
of  his  life,  is  to  eternity,  less  than  one  second  is  to  ten  thou- 
sand years  ! Law-givers  and  courts  of  this  world,  all  agree 
that  punishment  for  crime,  should  bear  some  due  propor- 
tion to  the  offense  committed,  but  in  the  case  supposed 
there  is  none. 

6.  If  any  doubt  is  entertained  as  to  the  last  question,  let 
us  take  another  case,  rather  than  argue  that  one.  Suppose 
a kind-hearted,  blithesome  school  miss,  of  fifteen  summers, 
one  who  was  baptized  into  the  church  when  an  infant,  was 
blest  with  a pious  mother,  who  learned  her  to  say  her 
prayers,  night  and  morning,  as  soon  as  she  could  lisp  the 
name  of  Jesus,  one  who  has  attended  Sunday-school  and 
day  school  also,  regularly  all  her  life,  is  well  educated  and 
intelligent  for  one  of  her  age,  and  who  never  did  an  act  in 
violation  of  the  decalogue  in  all  her  life  (as  many  such  have 
not),  yet  one  who  has  not  been  ^'boni  again,"  should  die 
in  that  condition,  would  a merciful  God  punish  her  eter 
nally  with  "'’the  devil  and  his  angels"  for  the  sins  of  tJds 
life  ? She  died  under  the  curse,  did  she  not  ? And  accord- 
ing to  the  orthodox  creed,  she  is  lost ! — damned  to  all  eter- 
nity!! And  for  what?  In  the  case  supposed,  it  would 
appear  to  have  been  done  for  no  sufficient  reason,  if  not 
for  the  pleasure  (?)  of  seeing  such  an  innocent,  lovely  crea- 
ture tormented  forever,  with  devils  and  damned  spirits ! 
Is  not  the  very  thought  of  having  charged  our  Maker  and 
kind  Benefactor,  with  such  horrid  cruelty,  inexpressibly  ab- 
horrent, to  every  true  friend  of  God  and  of  his  Christ? 

Upon  the  hypothesis  that  we  are  of  Satan’s  rebellious 
host,  and  that  the  Mosaic  accounfe  of  the  temptation  and 


lO 


ORIGIN  OF  MAN. 


fall  in  Eden  (although  literally  true),  i.s  a figurative  illustra- 
tion of  our  real  temptation  and  sin  in  heaven,  all  such  diffi- 
culties vanish  away,  as  does  the  darkness  of  night  before 
the  morning  sun.  For  if  we  come  into  this  life,  the  ser- 
vants of  Satan,  we  must  so  remain  and  abide  with  him  for- 
ever, if  not  pardoned — regenerated — ''born  again.” 

As  long  as  advocates  of  the  Christian  religion,  so  con- 
strue their  Text  Book,  is  it  strange  that  Spiritualists  u.se 
such  language  as  the  following,  in  reference  to  the  God  of 
Moses,  and  whom  we  adore?  “We  do  not  say  this  igno- 
rant bigot,  calling  himself  God,  was  not  Jehovah  : that, 
for  ought  we  know,  might  have  been  his  name  ; but  we  do 
say  that  this  whiffling,  jealous  Deity  has  not  sense  enough 
to  govern  the  world.” — Hull.  (They  consider  him  the 
very  wicked  spirit  of  a dead  Jew  ! and  in  every  respect,  as 
greatly  inferior  to  Moses.) 

7.  If  we  are  new  creatures — having  had  no  previous  ex- 
istence, why  is  it  that  we  will  all,  except  the  few  who  are 
regenerated  here,  be  finally  sent  for  punishment  to  the 
same  place  (and  for  the  same  term)  which  was  prepared  for 
the  devil  and  his  angels  ? Is  it  at  all  likely  that  our  crimes, 
committed  in  this  world,  are  precisely  equal  with,  and 
merit  just  the  same  sort  and  degree  of  punishment  that 
is  due  “the  devil  and  his  angels,”  for  their  rebellion  in 
heaven  ? God  is  never  strained  for  means  to  effect  his  pur- 
poses, as  men  are.  He  could  readily  have  found  or  pre- 
pared separate  apartments  for  the  safe  keeping  and  retribu- 
tion of  each  class  or  family  of  his  erring  creatures.  Could 
he  not?  And  yet  he  has  said:  “The  Son  of  man  shall 
come  in  the  glory  of  his  Father  with  his  angels;  and  then 
he  shall  reward  every  man  according  to  his  works.” — Mat. 
xvi : 27. 

The  devil  and  his  angels  will  receive  the  same  meed  of 
ju.stice,  as  we  cannot  doubt;  then  how  can  each  be  so  re- 
warded, on  the  plan  adopted,  and  in  the  case  supposed  ? 

These  are  but  a few  of  the  many  errors  and  inconsisten- 


ORIGIN  OF  MAN. 


I I 

cies  into  which  popular  doctrines  of  the  church,  have  in- 
volved the  Christian  theory  of  religion,  and  which  have  no 
foundation  in  the  Bible,  nor  in  natural  reason,  but  are  at 
once  dishonoring  to  God — fruitful  of  doubt  and  infidelity, 
and  ruinous  in  their  results  to  the  cause  of  Christ.  And  it  is 
fervently  desired  and  devoutly  hoped  that  the  few  sug- 
gestions already  made,  of  such  difficulties,  may  prove  suf- 
ficient to  arouse  some  at  least  of  those  who  stand  as  watch- 
men on  the  walls  of  Zion  ; and  to  show  them  the  necessity 
of  carefully  observing  every  “distinction  in  the  sounds’’ 
which  they  are  making — “For  if  the  trumpet  give  an  un- 
certain sound,  who  shall  prepare  himself  to  the  battle?” — 
I Cor.  xiv;  8. 

The  Bible  A true — it  is  perfectly  consistent  with  itself — 
with  every  fact  known  to  science,  and  with  natural  reason. 
Every  time  you  think  you  have  found  conflict  between  differ- 
ent passages  of  Scripture,  the  difficulty  lies  with  yourself,  my 
friend.  You  have  simply  failed  correctly  to  understand 
one  or  both  passages.  And  if  you  imagine  that  you  see 
something  there  which  is  contrary  to  Jmman  reason,  you  may 
safely  swear  that  you  do  not  understand  it ; for  it  is  utterly 
incredible  that  a poor,  benighted,  ignorant  creature,  should 
vanquish  his  all-wise  Creator,  in  a fair  philosophical  argu- 
ment. And  the  revelation  which  Christians  revere,  was 
prompted  by  the  love,  and  dictatsd  by  the  wisdom  of  God, 
and  must  therefore  be  true  and  reasonable. 

Then  let  us  not  fear,  as  Christians,  to  submit  our  theory 
to  the  test  of  reason  ; but  rather  let  us  compare  it  anew, 
with  the  Word  of  Wisdom,  and  make  it  conform  to  that 
Word.  When  we  have  done  that,  but  not  till  then,  we 
can  challenge  all  the  learning  of  this  world,  backed  by  the 
delusive  skill  of  the  devil,  to  a comparison  of  theories,  and 
we  can  confidently  and  successfully  meet  them,  either  in 
the  defense  of  revelation  or  of  our  system,  as  compared 
with  theirs,  or  both,  as  the  enemy  may  prefer,  and  in  the 
light  of  human  reason,  or  in  any  other  light. 


12 


ORIGIN  OF  MAN. 


SECTION  II. 

Man  an  Eternal  Spirit — A Fallen  Angel — Four  Theories  of 

the  Soul  stated — Three  noticed — Two  compared. 

It  is  now  purposed  to  answer  the  question:  “What  is 
man  ?”  Before  proceeding  to  do  so,  however,  it  is  thought 
best  to  give  the  reader,  in  brief  and  with  this,  all  the  old  views 
of  psychologists,  including  that  of  infidels,  on  this  subject. 

“It  appears  that  four  different  theories  as  to  the  human 
soul,  mind,  or  spirit,  have  been  presented  to  the  world ; 
and  the  object  of  this  writing  is  to  propound  a fifth.  These 
will  be  severally  noticed  (but  not  here)  in  the  order  in  which 
they  are  stated,  to-wit: 

1.  That  the  soul  is  but  the  rational  thinking  power  of 
man,  and  although  superior  to  that  of  other  animals,  had 
no  previous  existence,  but  is  pro-created  as  is  the  body, 
and  perishes  with  it. 

2.  That  at  the  beginning  of  the  world,  God  created  the 
souls  of  all  men,  which  however,  are  not  united  to  the 
body  till  the  individuals  for  whom  they  are  destined  are 
begotten  or  born  into  the  world. 

3.  That  the  soul  is  created  at  the  moment  when  the  body 
is  prepared  for  its  habitation. 

4.  That  the  soul  and  body  are  alike,  and  together  prop- 
agated by  the  parents,  neither  having  had  any  previous 
existence. 

The  theory  herein  proposed  is:  That  the  souls  of  all 
men  existed  before  the  creation  of  this  world  ; that  they 
are  of  the  fallen  angels  who  were  engaged  in  rebellion  un- 
der Satan  in  heaven,  and  were,  b\"  Michael  and  his  hosts, 
‘cast  out  into  the  earth;’  and  that  when  the  body  destined 
for  each  is  prepared,  the  spirit  is  sent  to  occupy  it  merely 
as  a tenement.”  War  in  Heaven,  Chap.  I,  pages  9 and  10. 

The  first  view,  above  stated,  is  that  which  was  enter- 
tained by  the  Sadducees  of  old,  and  which  has  been  held 


ORIGIN  OF  MAN. 


13 


by  infidels  generally,  down  to  the  introduction  of  the  mod- 
ern and  far  more  captivating  delusion  of  Spiritualism. 

Of  the  third  theory,  to-wit:  “That  the  soul  is  created 
at  the  moment  when  the  body  is  prepared  for  its  habita- 
tion.” Dr.  Knapp  says:  “ Cyril,  of  Alexandria  and  Theo- 
doret  among  the  fathers  in  the  Grecian  church,  were  of 
this  opinion  ; and  Ambrose,  Hilarius  and  Hieronymus,  in 
the  Latin  church,”  . . . “The  theory  of  the  Crcati- 

ani  was  at  first  favored  by  Augustine ; but  he  rejected  it  as 
soon  as  he  saw  how  it  was  employed  by  the  Pelagians.  It 
has  continued,  however,  to  the  present  time  to  be  the  com- 
mon doctrine  of  the  theologians  of  the  Romish  church, 
who,  in  this,  follow  after  the  school-men,  like  them,  mak- 
ing little  of  native  depravity  and  much  of  the  freedom  of 
man  in  spiritual  things. 

Among  the  Pretestant  teachers,  Melancthon  was  inclined 
to  the  hypothesis  of  the  ” . . . “Still  many 

distinguished  Lutheran  teachers  of  the  seventeenth  cen- 
tury followed  lyfelancthon  in  his  views  concerning  this  doc- 
trine. ” . . . “Luther  would  have  this  subject  left 

without  being  determined,  and  many  of  his  contemporaries 
were  of  the  same  opinion.”  See  Text  {\Var  in  Heaveii)  p. 
28,  ct  seq. 

The  fourth  hypothesis,  as  given  above,  is:  “That  the 
soul  and  body  are  alike,  and  together  propagated  by  the 
parents,  neither  having  had  any  previous  existence.”  This 
is  the  theory  of  our  being  which  has  long  been  most  pop- 
ular with  Protestants,  anfl  of  which  Dr.  Knapp  says: — 
“This  is  the  hypothesis  to  which  the  opponents  of  the 
Pelagians  have  been  most  generally  inclined.”  (Pelagius 
denied  the  doctrine  of  native  depravity,  and  held  to  that 
of  the  utmost  freedom  of  the  will.)  “The  reason  why 
this  theory  is  so  much  preferred  by  theologians  is,  that 
it  affords  the  easiest  solution  of  the  doctrine  of  native  de- 
pravity. ” “ The  easiest  sohUion  !’ ’ And  for  that  {very  good  ?) 
reason,  it  has  become  the  most  favored  theory  with  the 
^reat  Protestant  Church  ! 


14 


ORIGIN  OF  MAN. 


In  this  respect  our  Catholic  brethren  have  a decided  ad- 
vantage of  us,  for  their  theory  is  not  strictly  unreasonable, 
as  God  could  create  immortal  spirits  continually  as  bodies 
are  born  ; and  hence,  the  chief  difficulties  with  which  they 
have  to  contend,  in  that  particular,  arise  from  two  facts : 
first,  the  total  absence  of  Scriptural  authority  to  sus- 
tain them,  and  second,  that  there  is  abundant  evidence  in 
the  Bible  of  our  pre-existence  ; while  we  Protestants,  are 
in  the  same  dilemma,  as  to  the  bearing  of  Revelation  on 
the  subject,  and  which  is  still  worse  for  us,  our  notion  is 
not  only  unscriptural,  but  it  is  unreasonable  and  absolutely 
impossible  also. 

The  law  of  re-production  is,  that  like  shall  produce  its 
like.  Vines  do  not  bear  acorns,  nor  oaks  pumpkins.  Then, 
is  it  reasonable  to  believe  that  perishing,  physical  bodies 
produce  eternal  spirits  ? Is  it ! That  God  could  create,  or 
in  any  way  produce,  a being  superior  to  himself  is  impos- 
sible. Is  it  not  ? Then,  can  man  do  that  which  God  can- 
not do  ? Our  theory  is  that  he  can  ! 

To  this  it  has  been  replied  that  the  production  of  the 
soul  is  not  in  virtue  of  any  inherent  power  of  man,  but 
that  God,  of  his  almighty  power,  causes  the  soul  to  come 
into  being  with  the  body.  This  is  possible  ; but  if  it  is  in 
that  sense  only,  that  the  soul  is  propagated  with  the  body, 
the  soul  is  just  as  much  a new  creature  of  God,  as  if  crea- 
ted as  is  supposed  by  the  Catholic  Church.  And  in  that 
view,  our  theory  of  the  soul  falls  to  the  ground,  and  our 
doctrine  of  native  depravity  falls  with  it.  For  it  must  be 
true,  as  they  insist,  that  ‘ ‘ if  God  created  the  souls  of  men 
he  must  have  made  them  either  pure  and  holy,  or  impure 
and  sinful.  The  latter  supposition  is  inconsistent  with  the 
holiness  of  God,  and  consequently  the  doctrine  of  the  na- 
tive depravity  of  the  heart  must  be  rejected.  To  affirm 
that  God  made  the  heart  depraved,  would  be  to  avow  the 
blasphemous  doctrine,  that  God  is  the  author  of  sin.” 


ORIGIN  OF  MAN. 


15 


SECTION  III. 

Prc-existcncc  of  the  Soul — This  the  Old  Philosophy — A Chal- 
lenge— Evidenee  other  than  Saiptural — Pythagoras — Plato 
— -Josephus — Book  of  Wisdom — Hernias,  etc. 

The  second  theory,  as  stated  in  the  preceding  section  is : 
“That  at  the  beginning  of  the  world  God  created  the  souls 
of  all  men,  which,  however,  are  not  united  to  the  body  till 
the  individuals  for  whom  they  are  destined  are  begotten  or 
born  into  the  world.”  And  that  which  is  proposed  and 
advocated  in  “War  in  Heaven”  is,  “that  the  souls  of  all 
men  existed  before  the  creation  of  this  world  ; that  they 
are  of  the  fallen  ang«ls,  who  were  engaged  in  rebellion 
under  Satan  in  heaven,  and  were  by  Michael  and  his  hosts 
‘cast  out  into  the  earth  and  that  when  the  body  destined 
for  each  is  prepared,  the  spirit  is  sent  to  occupy  it  merely 
as  a tenement.  ” 

The  careful  reader  has  already  observed  that  in  the  the- 
ory advocated  by  the  writer,  “there  is  nothing  new  under 
the  sun;”  but  that  it  is  merely  an  enlargement  of  the  idea 
of  pre-existence,  by  identifying  the  class  of  spirits  to  which 
we  belong,  and  showing  why  we  are  here,  as  revealed  by 
Jesus  Christ  anc|  his  disciples. 

And  the  proposition  is  now  and  here  assumed,  that  every 
man,  whether  prophet,  evangelist  or  apostle,  who  ever 
wrote  a line  which  is  found  in  the  Bible,  believed  in  the  pre- 
existence of  the  human  soul.  Should  any  learned  theologian 
or  other  person,  wish  to  deny  this,  he  is  invited  to  do  so 
publicly,  and  is  hereby  challenged  to  produce  proof  to  the 
contrary.  Mere  charlatanical  attempts  to  dispose  of  stub- 
born facts  of  such  magnitude — and  which  are  clearly  revealed, 
as  by  contemptuous  sneers  at  the  thought  ofa  “ Lawyer"  un- 
dertaking to  teach  in  matters  of  religion,  will  not  suffice  in 
this  age  and  country.  Thinking  men,  who  feel  that  they 
will  soon  have  to  stand  before  the  Judge  of  quick  and 


i6 


ORIGIN  OF  MAN. 


dead,  want  to  know  what  they  are — why  they  are  here — 
for  what  they  have  to  answer ; and  they  want  to  see  the 
evidence  on  which  they  are  advised  to  rest  their  case. 
How  is  itf  This  question  must  interest,  more  or  less,  all 
reasoning  people. 

As  preliminary  to  the  argument  which  follows,  it  is 
deemed  best  to  remark  that  there  is  no  direct  or  full  reve- 
lation given,  in  the  Old  Testament,  as  to  the  origin  of  the 
soul,  and  there  is  no  argianoit  to  be  found  either  in  the 
New  Testament  or  the  Old,  of  this  question.  The  reason 
why  that  subject  was  not  discussed  by  any  writer  prior  to 
the  Crucifixion,  is  to  be  found  in  the  fact,  that  thor  was  no 
difference  of  opinion  about  it.  Every  bod}'  of  ever}'  age, 
prior  to  that  memorable  event,  who  believed  that  the  soul 
is  immortal,  believed  also  that  it  existed  before  man  was 
made  in  Eden. 

To  a correct  understanding  of  an}"  writing  in  which  man}- 
words  of  doubtful  import  are  found,  peculiar  forms  of  ex- 
pression used,  and  passing  remarks,  as  well  as  casual  refer- 
ences made,  which  relate  to  another  matter  than  that  which 
is  directly  under  consideration,  it  is  necessar}'  that  we 
should  first  know  the  writer’s  opinion  on  the  subject  so 
incidentally  touched.  Inasmuch,  therefore,  as  the  Old 
Testament  contains  no  direct  and  full  revelation  as  to  the 
origin  of  the  soul,  or  of  the  purposes  for  which  this  world 
was  made,  but  in  which  many  words  are  found  which  are 
not  generally  understood,  and  frequent  passing  remarks, 
casual  references  and  peculiar  forms  of  expression  met  with, 
and  which  are  manifestly  based  on  the  common  belief  of 
all  the  sacred  writers,  in  our  pre-existence,  the  following 
evidence  is  presented  to  prove  that  they  all  did  so  believe. 

Dr.  Knapp,  who  has  investigated  the  subject  thoroughly 
says:  “The  Hebrews  generally  describe  the  human  body 
as  derived  directly  from  parents,  as  from  the  phrases,  ‘ to 
come  fvin  the  loins  of  the  father,  to  be  in  his  loins,'  ” etc.  . . 
“Both  Greeks  and  Hebrews  represented  the  state  of  man 


ORIGIN  OF  MAN. 


17 

before  his  birth  as  similar  to  that  in  which  he  will  be  after 
death.”  . . “And  so,  according-  to  the  notions  of  the 

Hebrews,  man  is  hi  the  earth  as  well  before  his  birth  as  af- 
ter his  death  ; and  comes  forth  into  the  i^aterial  world  from 
that  same  vast,  subterranean,  invisible  kingdom  to  which 
he  again  returns. ” . . “This  was  the  opinion  of  Pytha- 

goras, Plato,  and  his  followers,”  etc. 

Plato  and  others  held  that  the  soul  “pertained  originally 
to  the  divine  nature,  and  is  incarcerated  in  the  body  as  a 
punishment  for  the  sins  which  it  committed  in  its  heavenly 
state.  This  hypothesis  found  advocates  in  the  ancient 
Christian  church.”  Origin  Heatius,  Justin  the  martyr, 
and  others,  are  mentioned  as  of  those  who  believed  in  the 
pre-existence  of  the  soul.  See  Christian  Theology,  pages 
200  and  201. 

The  above  quotations  from  Dr.  Knapp  are  given  to  show 
the  result  of  the  most  careful  research  by  a modern,  learned 
and  honest  Protestant,  upon  this  subject ; but  to  whose 
mind  the  question  appears  never  to  have  occurred  whether 
or  not  we  are  of  Satan’s  followers.  See  also  Religions  En- 
cyclopedia, Tit.  Pi'e-existiani. 

The  following  extracts  from  the  writings  of  Flavius  Jo- 
sephus, the  great  Jewish  historian,  and  who  was  a contem- 
porary of  Jesus  Christ,  are  now  offered  as  evidence  to  prove 
that  all  Jews,  from  the  earliest  age  of  that  people  down  to 
the  Christian  era,  who  believed  in  a future  life,  believed 
also  that  zve  have  lived  before.  That  period  includes  the 
times  of  all  the  Old  Testament  writers,  as  will  be  perceived 
at  once. 

In  his  Antiquities  of  the  Jews,  (Chap,  i,  p.  12)  he  repre- 
sents Moses  as  having  informed  us  “that  God  took  dust 
from  the  ground  and  formed  man,  and  inserted  in  him  a spirit 
and  a soul,”  (meaning,  doubtless,  with  animal  life,  “q  liv- 
ing sold.”  See  Gen.  ii:  7.)  Josephus  gives  this  as  his 
rendering  of  that  Scripture,  and  as  will  presently  appear, 
he  believed  that  soul  was  in  being  before  the  body  was 
made.  2 


ORIGIN  OF  MAN. 


If  the  translators  of  the  Bible  had  put  the  words  pos- 
sessed of,  (as  they  often  did  to  make  sense)  before  a living 
soul,  so  as  to  have  made  that  clause  read  thus,  “and  man 
became  possessed  ^ a living  soul,”  they  would  have  made 
that  Scripture  convey  the  same  idea  which  Josephus  had, 
and  which  must  be  the  true  interpretation,  for  man  was 
something  more  than  “a  living  soul”  as  then  constituted. 
Was  he  not  ? 

In  speaking  of  the  Essenes,  which  he  represents  as  the 
most  pious  sect  of  the  Jews,  and  of  what  he  calls  their 
"'divine  doctrine  about  the  soul,"  and  of  the  fortitude  with 
which  they  bore  the  most  cruel  tortures  inflicted  on  them 
by  their  Roman  captors,  he  says:  “They  resigned  up  their 
souls  with  great  alacrity,  as  expecting  to  receive  them 
again.  For  their  doctrine  is  this,  that  the  bodies  are  cor- 
ruptible, and  that  the  matter  they  are  made  of  is*  not  per- 
manent; but  that  their  souls  are  immortal,  and  continue 
forever,  and  that  they  come  out  of  the  most  subtile  air,  and 
are  united  to  their  bodies  as  to  prisons,  into  which  they  are 
drawn  by  a certain  natural  enticement ; but  that  when  they 
are  set  free  from  the  bonds  of  the  flesh,  they  then,  as  re- 
leased from  a long  bondage,  rejoice  and  mount  upward.” 
Jewish  War,  Book  2,  Chap.  8,  p.  250. 

He  proceeds,  on  the  next  page,  to  state  the  views 
of  the  Pharisees  as  to  the  immortality  of  the  soul 
and  future  rewards  and  punishments,  and  in  both  of  which 
they  agree,  in  the  main,  with  the  Essenes,  but  says  noth- 
ing of  their  philosophy  as  to  the  origin  of  the  soul,  and 
lastly,  in  a very  few  words,  he  disposes  of  the  other  sect, 
the  Sadducees,  by  showing  them  to  be  utterly  infidel  in 
faith,  and  reprobate  in  morals ; and  closes  that  chapter 
with  the  remark:  “And  this  is  what  I had  to  say  concern- 
ing the  philosophic  sects  among  the  Jews.” 

Observe  that  Josephus,  in  putting  on  record  for  the  ben- 
efit of  all  future  ages,  the  views  entertained  by  the  then 
religious  sects  into  which  his  countrymen  were  divided. 


ORIGIN  OF  MAN. 


19 


very  naturally  gives,  first,  at  some  length,  those  of  the 
most  pious  sect,  the  Essenes.  (Were  not  the  Prophets  all 
Essenes  ?)  He  then  states,  briefly,  the  opinions  of  the 
Pharisees,  and  evidently  intended  to  give  the  points  on 
which  they  differed  only.  Ele  distinctly  says  the  Essenes 
believed  that  the  souls  of  men  conic  out  of  the  most  subtile 
air,  and  are  united  to  their  bodies  as  to  prisons,  into  tuhich  they 
are  drazvn,”  etc.,  and  says  not  a word  of  a different  opinion 
on  the  part  of  the  Pharisees,  himself,  or  any  other  Jew,  ex- 
cepting the  Sadducees  only.  This  needs  no  comment,  for 
none  can  fail  to  understand  it.  % 

But  this  is  not  all.  Josephus  often  had  occasion  to  men- 
tion remarks  made  by  others,  and  incidentally  to  intimate 
his  own  views  also  on  this  subject.  He  has  given  us  the 
address  made  by  Eleazar  who  commanded  the  more  than 
Spartan  band  of  his  countrymen,  the  Sicarii,  who  had  re- 
treated to  the  fortress  of  Masada,  and  there  made  the  last 
stand  against  the  victorious  legions  of  Rome.  Jerusalem 
had  already  been  taken  and  destroyed,  and  every  Jewish 
army  captured  or  dispersed,  and  in  their  last  extremity  he 
advised  and  exhorted  his  people  to  die  by  their  own  hands 
rather  than  submit  to  their  heathen  conquerors,  and  which 
they  bravely  did. 

In  speaking  of  death  and  its  consequences,  Eleazar 
said  : “ It  is  true,  the  power  of  the  soul  is  great,  even  zvhen 
it  is  imprisoned  in  a mortal  body  ; for  by  moving  it  after  a 
way  that  is  invisible,  it  makes  the  body  a sensible  instru- 
ment, and  causes  it  to  advance  further  in  its  actions  than 
moral  nature  could  otherwise  do.  However,  ^vhcn  it  is 
freed  from  that  weight  which  draws  it  down  to  the  earth, 
and  is  connected  with  it,  it  obtains //.y  own  proper  place," 
etc.  Here  we  distinctly  see  again  the  same  idea  of  the 
Essenes. — -Jeiuish  War,  Book  7,  Chap.  8,  p.  464. 

And  again,  in  reference  to  their  laws  of  purification  and 
the  reasons  for  it,  all  of  which  he,  no  doubt,  well  under- 
stood. Josephus  said:  “Eor,  indeed,  the  soul  by ’being 


20 


ORIGIN  OF  MAN. 


united  to  the  body,  is  subject  to  miseries,  and  is  not  freea 
therefrom  again  but  by  death  ; on  which  account  the  law 
requires  this  purification  to  be  entirely  performed.”  Can 
it  be  truly  said  of  anything  which  is  in  prison,  that  it  is  to 
be  freed  again,  if  it  never  was  free  before  ? (See  his  Apion, 
Book  2,  p.  5 i6.) 

Attention  is  next  invited  to  a few  passages  taken  from 
the  books  of  Wisdom  and  Hermas  ; the  first  of  which  was 
written  before,  and  the  last  after  the  advent  of  the  Savior. 
The  book  of  Wisdom  may  be  found  in  the  apocryphal  Old 
Testament,  and  the  writings  of  Hermas  are  published  in 
the  apocryphal  New  Testament.  And  inasmuch  as  the  au- 
thors of  both  are  believed  by  some  to  have  been  inspired, 
while  others  think  that  neither  was,  their  evidence  is  of- 
fered here  as  that  of  learned  and  pious  witnesses  only. 

In  the  ninth  chapter  and  fifteenth  verse  of  W'isdom  we 
read;  “For  the  corruptible  body  is  a load  upon  the  soul, 
and  the  earthly  habitation  presseth  down  the  mind,”  etc. 
The  fifteenth  chapter  contains  an  expose  of  idol  worship, 
in  which  the  writer  says:  “And  of  the  same  clay,  by  a 
vain  labor,  he  maketh  a God ; he  who  a little  before  was 
made  of  earth  himself,  and  a little  after  returneth  to  the 
same  out  of  which  he  was  taken,  when  his  life,  which  was 
lent  him,  shall  be  called  for  again.”  . . “He  knew  not 

his  Maker,  and  him  that  inspired  into  him  the  soul  that 
worketh,  and  that  breathed  into  him  a living  spirit. (How 
like  Gen.  ii:  7 again!) 

And  further  on  he  says:  “For  man  made  them,  (the 
idols)  and  he  that  borroweth  his  own  breath  fashioned 
them,  for  no  man  can  make  a God  like  himself.  For  being 
mortal  himself,  he  formeth  a dead  thing  with  his  wicked 
hands.  For  he  is  better  than  they  whom  he  worshipeth, 
because  he  indeed  hath  lived,"  etc. 

Hermas,  in  his  second  vision,  saw  an  "old  woman"  walk- 
ing and  reading  in  a certain  book  which  she  gave  him. 
Referring  to  it,  he  further  on  says:  “Moreover,  brethren, 


ORIGIN  OF  MAN. 


21 


it  was  revealed  unto  me,  as  I was  sleeping,  by  a very 
goodly  young  man,  saying  unto  me.  What  thinkest  thou 
of  that  old  woman  from  whom  thou  receivedst  the  book  ? 
Who  is  she  ? I answered,  a Sibyl.  Thou  art  mistaken, 
said  he,  she  is  not.  I replied.  Who  is  she,  then,  sir?  He 
answered  me,  ‘ It  is  the  CJuirch  of  God.  ’ And  I said  unto 
him.  Why  does  she  appear  old  ? She  is  therefore,  .said  he, 
an  old  woman,  because  she  zvas  the  first  of  the  creation,  and 
the  zjoorld  zvas  made  for  her."  Vision  2 : JI-J2-JJ. 

Observe,  the  church  was  represented  to  Hermas  as  an 
old  zjooman.  She  is  represented  as  a woman  also  in  Rev. 
xii:  I.  Isa.  Ixvi : Jer.  vi;  2,  and  in  many  other  places. 
And  by  Hermas  we  are  informed,  directly,  that  the  church 
(meaning  the  individuals  of  which  she  was  to  be  constitu- 
ted,) was  created  before  the  world  was  made,  “because 
she  was  the  first  of  all  creation,  and  the  world  was  znade 
for  her."  See  Text,  p.  124. 


SECTION  IV. 

Jesus  Christ  and  Michael  the  same — Satan  the  Enemy  of  God 
and  Man — Those  cast  out  of  Heaven  by  Michael,  offez-ed 
Redezziption  on  eazih  by  Christ — This  fact  distinctly  z'eveal 
' ed — Blizidziess  of  Pzrjndice — That  Scriptuz'c  Wzrsted  azid 
Hozv — Dz'.  A.  Clark' s Evidezice,  etc. 

Having  first  established  the  fact  that  in  all  ages  of  the 
world,  down  to  and  including  the  time  of  Jesus  Christ  and 
his  apostles,  the  common  belief  df  both  Jews  and  Gentiles 
was  that  the  souls  of  all  men  pre-existed,  and  by  proof  found 
outside  of  the  canonical  books  of  the  Bible,  (while  evidence 
of  that  fact  abounds  far  more  abundantly  in  that  Book  of 
Books,  as  the  sequel  will  show,)  the  reader’s  mind  is  now 


22 


ORIGIN  OF  MAN. 


prepared  clearly  to  comprehend  the  meaning  and  duly  ap- 
preciate the  force  of  various  words,  peculiar  phrases  and 
forms  of  expression,  parables,  etc.,  which  are  so  often  met 
with  in  the  sacred  writings,  and  which  were  manifestly 
based  on  that  idea  and  have  direct  reference  to  it. 

For  inasmuch  as  no  trace  is  anywhere  to  be  found,  until 
since  that  time,  of  any  different  belief  on  that  subject,  hav- 
ing been  entertained  by  any  one,  (except  by  infidels,)  the 
conclusion  is  irresistible  on  the  part  of  every  one  who  really 
wants  to  knoiu  the  truth,  that  all  the  writers  of  the  Old  Tes' 
tament  and  the  New,  must  have  held  the  same  opinion. 

It  is  now  proposed  to  prove,  from  the  sacred  writings 
alone,  that  such  common  belief  among  those  who  lived  in 
the  olden  times  was  well  founded,  and  at  the  .same  time 
and  in  the  same  way,  to  prove  of  what  family  or  class  of 
spirits  we  are. 

Attention  has  already  been  invited  to  Genesis,  and  we 
will  now  go  back  to  Revelation,  and  in  our  further  progress 
we  will  gather  fruit  promiscuously,  as  occasion  may  require 
or  conv'enience  suggest,  from  the  great  vineyard  included 
by  both  and  all  that  lies  between  the  two.  And  should 
the  first  grapes  we  find  prove  (as  they  doubtless  will,) 
let  us  not  become  dismayed,  but  trusting  in  the  promises 
made  by  the  Lord  of  the  vineyard  to  all  zoho  hold  out  faith- 
ful to  the  end,  let  us  take  courage  and  pursue  our  labors 
with  confidence  that  we  will  be  rewarded  with  ripe,  rich  and 
sweet  fruits  before  the  season  is  past. 

We  will  now  read  from  the  twelfth  chapter  of  Revela- 
tion, only  premising  that  b}'  the  name  Jfichacl,''  Jesus 
Christ  is  intended,  and  that  the  terms  '"dragon,”  "serpent,” 
and  "devil,”  all  indicate  Satan — the  same  evil  spirit  who  is 
so  often  referred  to  in  the  Bible  as  the  great  enemy  of  God, 
of  Christ,  and  of  all  good  people. 

“7.  And  there  was  war  in  heaven  : i\Iichael  and  his  an- 
gels fought  against  the  dragon ; and  the  dragon  fought  and 
his  angels. 


ORIGIN  OF  MAN. 


23 


“8.  And  prevailed  not;  neither  was  their  place  found 
any  more  in  heaven. 

“9.  And  the  great  dragon  was  cast  out — that  old  ser- 
pent called  the  devil  and  Satan,  which  deceiveth  the  whole 
world:  he  was  cast  out  into  the  earth,  and  his  angels  were 
cast  out  with  him. 

“II.  And  they  overcame  him  by  the  blood  of  the  Lamb 
and  by  the  word  of  their  testimony ; and  they  loved  not 
their  lives  unto  the  death.” 

Now,  honest  reader,  what  does  this  Scripture  mean  ? 
“ He  was  cast  out  into  the  earth,  and  his  angels  were  cast 
out  with  him ; and  they  overcame  him  by  the  blood  of  the 
Lamb.  ” The  natural  and  most  logical  meaning  most  as- 
suredly is  just  this;  Satan  was  cast  out  of  heaven  and  down 
to  the  earth ; and  his  angels  (those  who  fought  with  him) 
were  cast  out  and  down  to  this  world  with  him ; and  they 
(Satan’s  angels)  overcame  him  (Satan)  by  virtue  of  the 
blood  of  Jesus  Christ.  Is  not  this  the  fair,  true  and  only 
interpretation  which  can,  with  any  due  regard  to  the  cause 
of  truth,  be  given  of  it?  If  I am  right  in  this  view,  (and 
who  will  deny  that  I am  ?)  there  need  be  no  more  doubt  or 
disputation  as  to  the  origin  of  our  race. 

But  it  may  be  suspected  that  the  tenth  verse,  which  was 
omitted  above,  might,  if  given,  have  changed  the  meaning 
wonderfully.  Let  us  see.  Here  it  is:  “10.  And  I heard  a 
loud  voice  saying  in  heaven,  now  is  come  salvation,  and 
strength,  and  the  kingdom  of  our  God,  and  the  power  of 
his  Christ : for  the  accuser  of  our  brethren  is  cast  down, 
which  accused  them  before  our  God  day  and  night.  ” This 
verse  was  omitted  above  to  show,  in  close  connection,  the 
narrative  of  Satan’s  expulsion,  and  the  effect  of  it  on  earth, 
and  without  the  interruption  produced  by  the  remarks 
made  in  the  tenth  verse,  as  to  the  cause  of  his  banishment, 
and  the  relief  afforded  thereby,  to  those  who  remained 
steadfast  in  heaven.  And  in  that  way,  as  all  will  see,  the 
clearest  practical  view  is  given  of  this — the  most  awful  fact 
that  is  any  where  revealed  to  man. 


24 


Origin  of  man. 


That  verse,  however,  so  far  from  impairing  the  force  of 
this  construction,  but  confirms  it,  because  the  whole  five 
verses,  considered  together,  show  the  identity  of  Michael, 
who  cast  us  out  of  heaven,  with  Christ,  who  came  to  re- 
deem us  here,  and  that,  by  “ The  blood  of  the  Lamb,  ” the 
sacrifice  of  our  Savior  is  intended,  is  too  plain  to  admit  of 
argument. 

But  a doubting  Thomas  may  not  yet  feel  satisfied  that 
our  race  is  identical  with  "'his  angels  (who)  were  cast  out 
with  him.  ” 

If  there  be  such  an  one,  let  him  answer,  to  his  own  sat- 
isfaction, the  other  questions  which  follow : What  race,  or 
class  of  sinners,  other  than  ours,  has  or  will  overcome  Satan, 
“by  the  blood  of  the  Lamb?”  This  scripture  says  that 
they  who  were  cast  out  with  Satan  overcame  him  just  by  that 
means.  Do  you  really  believe  what  it  says?  Or  is  it 
simply  false?  Then,  if  you  will  not  say  it  is  false,  what 
does  it  mean?  And,  if  we  are  not  of  those  rebel  angels, 
what  promise  have  we  of  salvation  through  Jesus  Christ? 
Did  he  come  to  redeem  both  those  who  were  “cast  out,  ” 
and  another  and  altogether  different  family  of  eternal  spir- 
its also,  one  which  was,  as  it  would  seem,  never  created  at 
all,  (as  some  think)  but  just  came  into  being  in  obedience 
to  natural  laws,  as  the  acorn  grows  on  the  oak,  or,  (as 
others  have  it)  who  are  newly  created  spirits,  made  when 
and  as  their  bodies  are  born — and  who,  in  either  view  of 
the  case,  had  .never  sinned,  or  fell,  and  therefore  had  no 
need  of  a Savior?  Christ  said,  he  came  “to  seek  and  to 
save  that  which  was  lost.  ” Can  you  expect  salvation 
through  Him,  if  you  lucre  not  lost  tuhen  he  camel 

My  Christian  friend,  is  the  Bible  nothing  better  than  an 
unmeaning  or  unintelligible  romance — an  idle  fiction ! Is 
God  but  a myth ! And  is  the  human  soul  no  more  than 
a sort  of  imaginary  quality,  or  a property  of  ours,  or  some- 
thing intrusted  to  our  care — “The  vital  principle,  ” as  often 
called,  yet  which  is  worth  saving,  as  it  is  to  live,  after  wc 
are  dead ! 


ORIGIN  OF  MAN. 


25 


Had  Solomon  lived  in  this  age,  the  force  of  his  exclama- 
tion could  have  been  more  fully  appreciated,  Avhen  he  said : 
“Vanity  of  vanities,  saith  the  preacher,  vanity  of  vani- 
ties; all  is  vanity. 

Are  bishops,  priests  and  preachers  all  so  completely  ab- 
sorbed in  their  bootless  wrangles  and  quarrels  about  their 
church  organizations,  or  so  wedded  to  a few  old  dogmas, 
(which  should  have  become  obsolete  long  since)  that  they 
are  perfectly  oblivious  to  the  plainest  teachings  of  God’s 
word?  “If  these  things  be  so,  ” the  time  has  come  when 
capable  thinking  people,  who  are  to  be  judged  according 
to  their  works,  (and  which  are  but  evidences  of  their  faith, 
which  i^  the  real  test)  should  turn  their  backs  to  such  teach- 
ers, and  their  eyes  and  thoughts  to  the  Bible.  No  man 
should  permit  another  to  do  all  the  thinking  for  him,  in 
matters  of  such  grave  import,  without  first  having  a safe 
arrangement  made,  by  which  the  teacher  shall  go  to  hell, 
as  the  substitute  of  the  taught,  should  such  trip  become 
necessary,  on  account  of  unbelief 

It  is  said  that:  “You  can’t  learn  an  old  horse  new 
tricks.  ” And  it  would,  most  likely,  prove  more  difficult 
to  get  a practical  scriptural  idea  into  the  head  of  a learned 
theologian  (?)  who  has  been,  for  lo,  these  many  years,  burn- 
ing out  his  eyes  and  straining  his  brains  to  get  up  some 
plausible  argument  to  sustain  the  unscriptural  and  unrea- 
sonable creed  of  his  church  ; but  in  which  he  has  grown  up 
and  been  educated  and  the  truth  of  which  he  has  never 
doubted.  And  no  sane  man  ever  yet  has,  nor  ever  will 
investigate  a question  about  which  he  is  already  satisfied. 

Will  any  one  consider  such  remark,  of  great  and  good 
men,  presumptuous?  If  so,  he  will  please  give  a better 
reason  why  both  great  and  good  men  differ  so  widely  about 
their  doctrines,  as  to  the  origin  of  the  soul,  of  election  and 
free  will,  perseverance  and  falling  from  grace,  baptism,  etc. 
Does  the  fault  lie  in  the  Bible?  Or  does  God  desire  to 
mislead  his  teachers?  No,  my  friend,  that  book  of  inspi- 


26 


ORIGIN  OF  MAN. 


ration  speaks  with  no  forked  tongue ! But  to  the  contrary, 
when  carefully  read  by  an  unbiased  inquirer  after  truth, 
and  construed  just  as  we  do  all  other  writings,  there  is  no 
conflict  to  be  found  in  it,  but  every  fact  that  is  taught  in 
any  one  place,  is  perfectly  consistent  with  every  thing  else 
which  is  said  in  the  whole  Bible ; and  therefore,  one  clear 
''thus  saith  the  Lord,  " is  sufficient  on  any  one  point.  And 
moreover,  there  is  no  room  left  for  a doubt,  when  so  read, 
as  to  any  duty  which  God  requires  of  us,  nor  as  to  the 
rules  by  which  we  will  be  tried,  and  rewarded  or  punished. 

Remember,  there  is  no  direct  evidence  in  the  Old  Testa- 
ment, as  to  the  family  of  spirits  to  which  we  belong;  al- 
though it  was  believed  in  a very  early  age,  that  fallen  an- 
gels were  in  this  world,  as  will  appear  from  remarks  made 
by  Josephus,  in  his  Antiquities,  Book  i.  Chap.  3,  Sec.  i, 
and  a note  by  Prof  Whiston  thereon.  See  also  Gen.  vi : 4. 
That  the  disciples,  James  and  John,  did  not,  at  one  time, 
know  their  origin  is  certain,  for  the  Savior  said  to  them : 
“Ye  know  not  what  manner  of  .spirit  ye  are  of”  Luke  i.x: 
55.  They  knew  they  were  eternal  spirits,  but  did  not 
know  of  what  class,  nor  for  what  sins  they  were  here. 
This  was  one  of  the  great  "hidden"  facts  which  Christ 
promised  his  disciples  should  be  revealed,  and  made  known. 
Mat.  x;  26,  and  John  xiv : 26;  and  which  was  revealed  to 
St.  John  soon  thereafter,  as  we  have  seen. 

ILit,  it  may  be  asked,  why  was  this  .scripture,  which  ap- 
pears so  plain,  not  understood  by  every  one  who  has  read 
it,  from  then,  till  now?  Many  causes  have  contributed  to 
this  blindness ; among  which  may  be  mentioned  the  fact, 
that  a few  men  hav^e,  in  all  ages,  guided  public  opinion  on 
every  subject,  but  especially  in  matters  of  religion,  and 
this  scripture  has  been  wrested,  by  those  who  were  “unlearn- 
ed and  unstable,  as  they  do  also  wre.st  the  other  scriptures 
unto  their  own  destruction,”  (pardon  the  slight  transposi- 
tion) 2 Pet.  iii : 16.  The  conclusion  to  which  charity  com- 
mends’, in  all  such  cases,  is  however,  that  such  guides  have 


ORIGIN  OF  MAN.  2/ 

been  themselves  directed  by  the  arch  deceiver  of  man,  and 
enemy  of  God. 

Dr.  Adam  Clark,  in  a preface  to  his  notes  on  Revelation, 
informs  us  that  the  revelations  made  and  prophecies  con- 
tained therein,  have,  from  the  time  of  St.  John  down  to 
the  present  time,  been  construed  by  Christians  as  referring 
to  those  who  were,  from  time  to  time,  considered  their 
worst  enemies. 

And  that  which  must  strike  the  observant  reader  as  won- 
derful, is  the  fact,  that  this  twelfth  chapter,  as  well  as  the 
whole  book,  has  most  frequently  been  construed,  not  as  a 
revelation  of  hidden  things,  (as  the  Savior  had  promised, 
and  the  very  name,  “Revelation,"  shows  that  it  is,  and  was 
intended  to  be)  but  as  strictly  a prophecy,  of  things  to  come 
thereafter.  It  contains  both  however,  revelations  and 
prophecies.  All  admit  that  the  fifth  verse  refers  directly 
to  the  birth  of  Christ,  which  was  an  event  of  the  past,  and 
man}^  other  passages  in  that  book  unquestionably  relate  to 
things  then  gone  by. 

It  is  a revelation  of  two  of  the  most  important  facts  yet 
revealed  to  man,  to-wit:  That  we  were  cast  out  of  heaven, 
for  sins  committed  there,  and  that  the  same  victorious 
Chief,  who  drove  us  thence,  has,  of  his  eternal  love  and 
tender  merc}^,  followed  us  in  our  banishment — brought  us 
into  this  life,  and  is  now  offering  us  pardon,  and  restora- 
tion to  our  primeval,  happy  estate,  and  on  terms  the  most 
liberal. 

From  that  distinguished  commentator,  we  learn,  that  in 
the  age  immediately  succeeding  that  of  St.  John,  Christians 
generally,  and  whether  originally  Jews  or  Gentiles,  looked 
upon  the  infidel  Jews  as  their  common  and  most  dreaded 
enemies ; and  that  they  construed  this  scripture,  as  apply- 
ing to  the  Jews  and  Jerusalem.  The  heathen  Emperors  of 
Rome,  became  their  next  persecutors,  and  they  were  be- 
lieved to  be  the  parties  intended.  The  Roman  pontiffs 
next  became  the  terror  of  Protestants,  and  they  soon 


28 


ORIGIN  OF  MAN. 


found,  and  yet  find,  a ready  solution  of  the  whole  myster>' 
by  applying  it  to  the  Pope  and  the  Catholic  church.  And, 
in  turn,  the  Catholics  appear  quite  as  well  satisfied  that  Lu- 
ther and  his  Protestant  followers,  are  the  great  anti-CJmst — 
“dragon”  — “serpent” — “devil”  and  “Satan,”  inten- 
ded; and  that  they  will  be  “ cast  out"  (of  the  earth  ?)  and 
their  power  for  evil  destroyed,  before  the  dawn  of  the 
great  day. 

And  so  the  matter  now  stands,  between  the  two  great 
Christian  families, 

“ Each  claiming  truth. 

And  truth  disclaiming  both.” 


SECTION  V. 

Prc-existencc — Proven  by  Old  Testamciit — Oiir  Identity  with 
Fallen  Angels  Sustained  by  Same — Old  and  New  Testa- 
ment Prophecies  Coupled — New  Testament  Texts  Cited — 
Dr.  Gill,  to  Michael  and  Cluist — Old  and  Nrw  Testa- 
ment Authorities  Compared— John  the  Baptist  and  Elijah 
the  Prophet  the  Same — Separate  Existence  of  Sotd  and 
Body — Conclusion. 

Facts  referred  to  in  the  preceding  section,  prove  conclu- 
sively, that  the  twelfth  chapter  of  Revelation  has  not  been 
correctly  interpreted,  by  the  Christian  world.  It  cannot, 
for  instance,  refer  to  both  the  Pope  and  the  Catholic 
church,  and  to  Luther  and  the  Protestant  church,  as  the 
great  anti- Christ,"  who  is  designated  by  the  names  dra- 
gon, serpent,  devil  and  Satan — therein  represented  as  the 
arch  enemy  of  Christ  and  his  church,  as  the  friends  of 
each  of  these  two  leading  families  of  Christians,  insist  that 
it  does  apply  to  the  other. 

It  was  designed  first,  to  prepare  the  mind  for  the  recep- 


ORIGIN  OF  MAN. 


29 


tion  of  the  facts,  as  revealed  in  that  chapter,  in  relation  to 
the  origin  of  our  race,  by  evidence  of  the  pre-existence  of 
the  soul,  draAvn  from  other  evidence  than  the  Bible.  Noth- 
ing more  is  now  necessary  than  to  prove  that  the  script- 
ure quoted  above,  as  a direct  revelation  of  our  origin, 
means  zvhat  it  says.  And  this  it  is  now  purposed  to  do, 
first,  by  citing  a few  passages  of  scripture,  simply  sustaining 
the  evidence  already  adduced,-  that  we  have  lived  before, 
and  lastly,  such  as  tend  also,  to  identify  our  family  as  the 
same  rebel  sinners  who  were  cast  out  of  heaven  with 
Satan. 

“ Where  wast  thou  when  I laid  the  foundation  of  the 
earth?  declare  if  thou  hast  understanding.”  “When  the 
morning  stars  sang  together,  and  all  the  sons  of  God 
shouted  for  joy.”  Job  xxxviii:  4-7. 

From  this  it  appears  that  Job  was  somewhere,  but  knew 
not  where,  and  that  God  had  many  sons,  when  this  world 
was  made. 

‘ ‘ Then  shall  the  dust  return  to  the  earth  as  it  was : and 
the  spirit  shall  retinii  unto  God  who  gave  it.  ” Eccl.  xii : 7. 
How  could  it  be  well  said,  “the  spirit  shall  return  to  God,” 
if  it  never  had  being*  until  it  came  into  existence  with  the 
body?  Bear  in  mind,  that  Solomon,  and  all  the  other  in- 
spired penmen,  (as  shown  above)  believed  in  the  pre-ex- 
istence of  the  soul. 

“The  land  shall  not  be  sold  forever;  for  the  land  is  mine, 
{ox  ■a.xQ  strangei's  and  sojourners  Lev.  xxv:  23. 

See  sti'angers  and  pilgrims.”  i Pet.  ii:  ii.  Can  one  be 
considered  a stranger,  sojoimier,  or  a pilgrim,  if  he  had  no 
previous  existence,  and  who  never  resided  out  of  the  neigh- 
borhood in  which  he  was  born? 

“For  we  are  strangers  before  thee  and  sojourners,  as 
were  all  our  fathers : our  days  on  the  earth  are  as  a shadow.  ” 
I Chron.  xxix : 15.  See  also,  Ps.  xxxix:  12.  From  Rom. 
iii:  we  learn  that  Christ  was  sent  to  be  a ^ ‘ propitiation” ' Y or 
the  remission  of  sins  that  are  past” — '■'For  all  have  sinned.” 


30 


ORIGIN  OF  MAN. 


If  those  who  die  while  infants,  have  sinned,  it  was  before 
they  came  into  this  world,  was  it  not?  The  propitiation,  is 
said  to  have  been,  “for  sins  that  are  past.” 

OF  WHAT  FAMILY  OF  SINNERS  ARE  WE? 

Bear  in  mind,  that  Satan,  “was  cast  out  into  the  earth, 
and  his  angels  were  cast  out  with  him,”  and  further,  that, 
“ they  overcame  (are  to  overcome)  him  by  the  blood  of  the 
Lamb.”  Now,  what  do  we  next  hear  of  them?  “And 
the  angels  which  kept  not  their  first  estate,  but  left  their 
own  habitation,  he  hath  reserved  in  everlasting  chains  un- 
der darkness  unto  the  judgment  of  the  great  day.”  Jude 
6.  And  St.  Peter  says  of  them  : “ God  spared  not  the  an- 
gels that  sinned,  but  cast  them  down  to  Tartarus,  and  de- 
livered them  into  chains  of  darkness,  to  be  reserved  unto 
the  judgment.  ” 2 Pet.  ii;  4.  \^\\y  rcscn'c  them  unto  the 

judgment,  if  they  have  already  been  adjudged  to  eternal 
punishment,  and  without  giving  them  any  chance  to  re- 
pent, or  ask  pardon  ? Were  they  worse,  while  yet  in 
heaven,  and  when  “cast  out,”  than  some  men  on  earth  are 
now?  Read  and  reflect  on  the  question. 

Observe  here,  the  word  “ Tattarusj’  as  quoted  from  St. 
Peter  above,  is  translated  in  our  Bible  ''hell.''  That  was 
simply  an  error  in  judgment,  on  the  part  of  the  translators, 
as  to  the  meaning  of  the  apostle  by  the  use  of  that  word. 
This  will  be  admitted  by  all  candid  critics,  who  will  read 
the  evidence  given,  beginning  on  page  103,  of  “ War  in 
Heaven. 

Tartarus  is  the  name  of  the  place,  or  condition  in  which 
the  ancient  Greeks  believed  the  fallen  angels  and  souls  of 
bad  men  are  held.  And  this  is  believed  to  be  the  only 
place  in  the  bible  where  that  word  is  to  be  found.  Ib. 

“ Errors,  like  straws,  upon  the  surface  flow ; 

He  who  would  search  for  pearls  must  dive  below.” — Dryden. 

Let  us,  therefore,  go  back  to  the  prophets  of  old,  and 
see  if  they  said  anything  that  affects  the  question  before 


ORIGIN  OF  MAN. 


31 


US.  “I  will  seek  that  which  was  lost,  and  bring  again  that 
'whxchwa.?,  driven  away,”  &X.C.  Ezek.  xxxiv:  16.  (But  read 
that  whole  chapter.)  When  were  we  driven  azvayt  They 
were  of  the  lost,  whom  Christ  came  “to  seek  and  to  save.” 
“In  that  day,  saith  the  Lord,  will  I assemble  her  that 
halteth,  and  will  gather  her  that  is  driven  ont,  and  her  that 
I have  afflicted ; and  I will  make  her  that  halted  a remnant, 
and  her  that  was  cast  far  offs,  strong  nation : and  the  Lord 
shall  reign  over  them  in  Mount  Zion  from  thence  forth 
even  forever.”  Micah  iv:  6-7.  Who  are  those  who,  after 
having  been  east  far  of , are  to  become  “a  strong  nation,” 
and  over  whom  the  Lord  is  to  reign  forevert  Have  those 
who  die  while  infants,  been  cast  far  offl  No  one  will  say 
that  they  have,  since  they  were  born  into  this  world. 
Then,  are  they  to  constitute  no  part  of  that  eternal  king- 
dom ? 

“Rejoice  greatly,  O daughter  of  Zion  ; shout,  O daugh- 
ter of  Jerusalem;  behold,  thy  king  cometh  unto  thee  . 

As  for  thee  also,  by  the  blood  of  thy  covenant  I have  sent 
forth  thy  prisoners  out  of  the  pit  wherein  is  no  water. 
Turn  you  to  the  stronghold,  ye  prisonei's  of  hope,"  etc. 
Zech.  ix:  9-11-12.  “The  redeemed  of  the  Lord  shall 
return,  (to  and  from  where?)  and  come  with  singing  unto 
Zion-,  and  everlasting  joy  shall  be  upon  their  heads;  they 
shall  obtain  gladness  and  joy ; and  sorrow  and  mourning 
shall  flee  away.  Isa.  li:  What  a precious  promise ! But 
to  proceed:  “Ye  have  'soXd,  yourselves  (not  sold  by  an- 
other) for  naught ; and  ye  shall  be  redeemed  without  mon- 
ey. ” (This  is  easy  to  believe,  if  we  are  of  those  who  en- 
listed under  Satan,  and  were  cast  out  with  him  ; provided 
we  are  redeemed  at  all.)  Ib.  lii:  3.  “I,  the  Lord,  have 

called  thee  (Isaiah)  to  open  the  blind  eyes,  to  bring  out  the 
prisoners  from  the  prison,  and  them  that  sit  in  darkness,  out 
of  the  prison  house.”  Ib.  xlii:  7.  We  have  not  all  been 
confined  within  the  walls  of  a common  “prison  house,” 
since  we  have  been  in  these  “tabernacles”  of  the  flesh. 


32 


ORIGIN  OF  MAN. 


Then,  if  this  is  our  first  state  of  life,  we  are  not  of  those  to 
whom  Isaiah  was  sent,  and  therefore,  we  have  no  interest 
in  his  welcome  message ! 

Now,  compare  the  language  used  in  the  above  prophe- 
cies, with  that  employed  in  Rev.  xii,  and  see  whether  the 
startling  fact  revealed  there,  is  not  indubitably  intimated 
by  the  earliest  prophets. 

We  will  now  look  at  a few  remarks  found  in  the  New 
Testament  scriptures,  and  see  whether  the  same  idea  pre- 
vails there. 

“And  I looked,  and  lo,  a Lamb  stood  on  Mount  Zion, 
and  Avith  him  a hundred  forty  and  four  thousand,  having 
his  Father’s  name  written  in  their  foreheads”  . . “And 
they  sung  as  it  were  a new  song  before  the  throne,”  . . 

“and  no  man  could  learn  that  song  but  the”  . . “;r- 
dcemcd from  the  earth.”  Note  the  peculiar  phraseology — 
a Lamb — Monnt  Zion — no  man  could  learn — but  redeemed, 
etc.  Do  not  such  terms  and  forms  of  expression  couple 
the  old  and  new  prophecies  beautifully? 

It  seems  that  other  men  are  to  be  there  than  “the  re- 
deemed from  the  earth.”  If  the  other  men  are  not  the 
steadfast  angels  who  fell  not,  who  are  they?  Then,  if  all 
are  to  be  designated  hereafter  bv  the  same  name,  mav  Ave 
not  reasonably  suppose  that  all  AA'ere  originally  of  the  same 
family  ? It  Avill  hardly  be  insisted  that  unredeemed  men 
Avill  be  there,  from  this  Avorld  ! But  to  proceed  : 

“For  the  Son  of  man  is  come  to  seek  and  to  saA^e  that 
which  Avas  lost.”  (This  is  AAdiat  Christ  said  he  came  to 
do.)  Luke  xix:  lo.  The  angel  Avho  visited  Joseph,  told 
him  that  Jesus  should  “save  his  people  from  their  sins.” 
Mat.  i:  2i.  “While  Ave  Avere  yet  sinners,  Christ  died  for 
us,  ” — “For  if  Avhen  Ave  Avere  enemies,  Ave  AA'ere  reconciled 
to  God  by  the  death  of  his  Son,  much  more  being  recoiicil- 
ed,  Ave  shall  be  saved  by  his  life.” 

Noav,  felloAV  sinner,  ansAver  yourself  honestly,  must  you 
not  believe  that  you  "■voas  lost,”  at  the  time  AA'hen  Christ 


ORIGIN  OF  MAN. 


33 


came  as  a man  ? Were  you  not  an  enemy  of  God  before 
Christ  came  into  this  world?  And  could  you  have  been 
''' reconciled  to  God  bj^  the  death  of  his  Son,”  before  you 
had  been  at  enmity  with  him?  And  must  we  not  realize 
the  fact,  that  we  have  existed  somewhere,  before  we  came 
into  this  present  life,  or  esteem  the  Word  of  God  as  no 
better  than  idle  prate — mere  twaddle  ! 

The  writer  has  a much  more  exalted  opinion  of  revealed 
truth,  and  is  not  therefore  ashamed  of  it ; but  with  another 
who  was  also  a very  unpopular  teacher  oT  his  time,  (“The 
latchet  of  whose  shoes  I am  not  worthy  to  stoop  down  and 
unloose.  ”)  I believe  what  the  Bible  says,  in  its  most  lit- 
eral sense ; and  that  the  gospel  of  Christ,  when  so  believ- 
ed, “ is  the  power  of  God  unto  salvation  to  every  one  that 
believeth.” 

It  is  to  those  who  so  believe,  worth  reading,  and  there- 
fore, we  will  have  more  of  it:  “Then  shall  the  King  say 
unto  them  on  his  right  hand.  Come,  ye  blessed  of  my 
Father,  inherit  the  k'ingdom  prepared  for  you  from  the 
foundation  of  the  ivorld.'' — “Then  shall  he  say  also  unto 
them  on  the  left  hand.  Depart  from  me,  ye  cursed,  into 
everlasting  fire,  prepared  for  the  devil  and  his  angels."  Mat. 
XXV : 34-41.  Observe,  those  sentenced  that  day,  are  to  be 
first  separated,  “as  a shepherd  divideth  his  sheep  from  the 
goats.”  They  will  be,  of  course,  mixed  together,  or  no 
separation  would  be  necessary.  The  blessed  are  to  inherit 
the  kingdom  which  was  prepared  for  them  “from  the 
foundation  of  the  world.”  The  cursed  are  to  be  sent  to 
the  final  home,  “prepared  for  the  devil  and  his  angels.” 
Why  not  have  sent  the  devil  and  his  angels  to  their  eternal 
home  at  once?  Why  reserve  them  until  the  day  on  which 
Adam’s  race  are  to  be  judged,  if  they  have  no  interest  in 
that  judgment  ? Why  are  those  who  are  cast  out  of  heaven 
with  Satan,  and  those  of  us,  who  will  be  lost,  all  called  by 
the  same  name,  (the  devil’s  “angels”  ) and  sent  to  the  same 
3 


34 


ORIGIN  OF  MAN. 


place — at  the  same  time,  and  for  the  same  term — if  we  and 
they  are  of  entirely  different  races?  Why  was  the  eternal 
abiding  place  prepared  for  us  and  them  before  this  world 
was  made,  if  we  were  not  then  in  being?  But,  I must  for- 
bear argument,  and  cite  authority. 

In  I Pet.  i:  17  to  20,  we  are  informed  that  we  are  re- 
deemed, (if  at  all)  with  the  precious  blood  of  Christ,  “as 
of  a Lamb  without  blemish,  and  without  spot.  Who  ver- 
ily was  foreordained  before  the  foundation  of  the  world.” 
Why  provide  a Redeemer  for  us  then?  Adam  had  not 
been  made  nor  Eden  planted  ! Or,  was  it  foreordained  that 
this  world  should  be  created — Adam  and  Eve  put  here  to 
propagate  a new  family  of  eternal  spirits — that  the  devil 
should  tempt  and  deceive  them  into  sin — that  Christ  might 
save  a few — but  that  Satan  should  have  all  the  rest  of  us, 
to  make  up  some  deficiency  which  he  may  have  discover- 
ed— -in  the  enormous  population  required  to  fill  up  the  vast 
regions  of  hell  ? In  this  view,  we  can  understand  wdi)’  it 
was  that  his  Satanic  Majesty  delayed  his  removal  to  his 
new  and  permanent  dominions,  until  we  are  judged  and 
divided  with  him.  The  little  squad  which,  it  ma)'  be  sup- 
posed, was  cast  out  wuth  him  from  heaven,  may  not  have 
been  sufficient  to  satisfy  his  princely  ambition,  and  there- 
fore, it  was  foreordained  that  he  should  have  the  lion’s 
share  of  the  proceeds  of  another  week’s  work  ! Is  this  a 
satisfactory  solution  of  the  difficulty  ? 

Presuming  that  some,  who  have  heard  and  read  of  the 
power  and  wisdom  and  mercy  of  God  to  all  his  creatures, 
will  not  feel  satisfied  wfith  that  e.xplanation,  w'e  will  read 
further. 

Remember,  that  in  Rev.  xii : the  Michael,  w’ho  fought 
against  the  dragon,  is  also  called  Christ.  He  is  elsewhere 
called  “The  Arch-angel,”  “The  Angel  of  the  Lord,” 
“The  Word,”  and  by  various  other  appellations.  Now, 
by  reference  to  Daniel  x:  13-21,  Ib.  12 : i to  4,  and  Jude 


ORIGIN  OF  MAN. 


35 


9,  it  will  be  perceived  that  the  Michael  of  the  Old  Testa- 
ment and  Christ  of  the  New  are  the  same.  And  from 
John  i:  i to  4,  you  will  find  that  He  made  this  world,  (or 
adapted  it  to  the  present  use  rather,)  and  made  the  bodies 
of  Adam  and  Eve  also. 

From  the  same  Scriptures,  it  likewise  appears  that  Satan 
is  uniformly  represented  as  the  adversary  of  Michael, — 
the  former  as  our  enemy,  and  the  latter  as  our  friend. 
Christ  said : “I  beheld  Satan  as  lightning  fall  from  heaven.  ” 
Luke  x:  18.  When  was  that? 

Should  any  one  doubt  the  identity  of  Michael  with 
Christ,  they  can  satisfy  themselves  that  they  are  the  same, 
by  examining  the  evidence  furnished  by  Dr.  Gill,  in  his 
comments  on  Jude  9,  and  Rev.  12.  See  also,  “Warm 
Heaveii,”  p.  94. 

Now  observe,  that  the  grace  by  which  we  were  saved 
(from  the  immediate  and  eternal  punishment  due  for  our 
sins)  “was  given  us  in  Christ  Jesus  before  the  world  be- 
gan,” 2 Tim.  i:  9.  If  we  were  not  in  existence  then,  we 
had  not  sinned : had  we  ? In  that  case,  what  need  had  we 
of  grace  ? That  grace,  it  seems,  was  a free  gift — a present. 
How  can  a present  be  given  to  one  who  is  not  in  being  ? 

But  let  us  read  further  on  this  subject.  That  grace  was 
given,  “that  they  may  recover  themselves  out  of  the  snare 
of  the  devil,”  (that  we  may  so  recover  ourselve.s)  2 Tim. 
ii : 26.  Can  one  recover  himself  out  of  a snare,  in  which 
he  never  was  caught  ? It  furthermore  appears  that  those 
to  be  recovered,  were  chosen  in  Christ,  “before  the  foun- 
dation of  the  world,”  Eph.  i:  4.  Read,  in  this  connec- 
tion, I Pet.  i : and  note  carefully  2 and  17.  “And  they 
that  dwell  on  the  earth  shall  wonder,  whose  names  were 
not  written  in  the  book  of  life  from  the  foundation  of  the 
world,”  Rev.  xvii:  8.  (There  is  a day  approaching  when 
many  will  be  overwhelmed  with  wonder  and  astonishment. 
It  cannot  be  those  who  know  and  observe  the  truth — 
“the  truth  shall  make  you  free.”) 


36 


ORIGIN  OF  MAN. 


What  meaneth  such  Scriptures  as  “ he  hath  chosen  jus 
in  him  before  the  foundation  of  the  world” — “Whose 
names  were  not  written  in  the  book  of  life  from  the  foun- 
dation of  the  world,”  etc  ? Many  such  passages  are  found 
all  throngh  the  Bible,  and  they  must  mean  something. 

‘ ‘ I will  establish  my  covenant  with  him  (Isaac)  for  an 
everlasting  covenant,  and  with  his  seed  after  him.”  Gen. 
xvii:  19.  God  giveth  ‘do  every  seed  his  ozu}i  body,"  i Cor. 
XV : 38.  “There  is  a natural  body,  and  there  is  a spirit- 
ual body,”  Ibid  44.  “Wherefore,  when  he  (Christ) 
Cometh  into  the  world,  he  saith,  sacrifice  and  offering  thou 
wouldst  not,  but  a body  hast  thou  prepared  me.  ” Heb.  x:  5. 
“ If  David  then  called  him  Lord,  how  is  he  his  son?  And 
no  man  was  able  to  answer  him  a word.”  See  Mat.  xxii: 
41  to  46. 

Observe,  of  the  last  five  quotations,  it  was  not  07ir, 
but  my,  covenant  which  was  to  be  established — M as  not 
the  covenant  here  referred  to,  the  one  pursuant  to  which 
this  world  was  made,  and  man  brought  into  this  life? 

Was  it  the  spiritual  body  of  Isaac,  from  which  “his  seed 
after  him  ” was  to  come,  or  rvas  not  the  seed  of  his  natural 
body  intended? 

Was  it  ^ natural,  or  spiritual  body,  M'hich  Christ  said  was 
prepared  for  him  ? Was  it  his  natural,  or  spiritual  body, 
which  descended  from  King  David?  Remember,  there  is 
both  a natural  bocljq  and  a spiritual  bodj'. 

What  are  rve  to  understand  from  the  following  texts : 
“Ye  were  as  sheep  going  astray ; but  are  now  returned  unto 
the  Shepherd,  and  Bishop  of  your  souls.”  (This  rvas  ad- 
dressed, to  Christians.)  I Pet.  ii  : 25. 

In  Heb.  xi : 13  to  16,  after  making  mention  of  several 
patriarchs  and  prophets,  rvho  had  “died  in  the  faith,”  the 
apostle  says  of  them,  that  the)',  “confessed  that  thc)- 
M'ere  strangers  and  pilgrims  on  earth.  For  the)'  that  sa)' 
such  things,  declare  plainly  that  the)'  seek  a countr)'. 
And  truly,  if  the)^  had  been  mindful  of  that  cuuntry,  from 


ORIGIN  OF  MAN. 


37 


whence  they  came  out,  they  might  have  had  opportunity  to 
have  returned.”  By  reference  to  that  chapter,  it  may  be 
seen  that  the  sojourn  in  Egypt,  was  not  the  time  intended, 
or  the  place,  where  or  when,  they  were  “strangers  and 
pilgrims;”  but  these  terms  apply  to  all  while  on  earth. 
Now,  if  we  never  lived  anywhere  else,  how  can  it  be  said 
that  a man  who  was  born,  raised,  lived  and  died  on  the 
same  farm,  or  in  the  same  city,  was  a “stranger  and  pil- 
grim ” on  earth  ? Do  not  the  instructions  given  in  that 
chapter  apply  to  all  of  us  ? If  we  are  as  those  good  men 
of  old,  we  must  have  conic  out  of  some  country  to  get  here. 
But  as  with  us,  so  was  it  with  them,  for  it  appears  that 
they,  too,  were  not  “mindful  of  that  country  from  whence 
they  came  out.”  (St.  Paul  knew  our  origin.  See  Text, 

p.  i66.) 

Does  it  appear  mysterious  that  a man  should  have  lived 
in  a rational,  active  sense,  and  as  a full  grown  man,  and 
after  that  “become  as  a little  child” — and  grow  up  to  the 
full  stature  of  a man  again  ? Strange  as  it  may  seem,  that 
certainly  is  true  of  John  the  Baptist,  if  Jesus  Christ  was  the 
Messiah  promised.  “The  voice  of  him  that  crieth  in  the 
wilderness,  prepare  ye  the  way  of  the  Lord,”  etc.  Isa.  xl; 
3.  “Behold,  I will  send  my  messenger,  and  he  shall  pre- 
pare the  way  before  me,”  etc.  Mai.  iii:  i.  “ Behold,  I will 
send  you  Elijah  the  prophet  before  the  coming  of  the  great 
and  dreadful  day  of  the  Lord.”  Mai.  iv:  5.  The  Baptist 
said  of  himself:  “This  is  he  that  was  spoken  of  by  the 
prophet  Esaias  (Isaiah)  saying  : The  voice  of  one  crying  in 
the  wilderness,  prepare  ye  the  way  of  the  Lord,  make  his 
paths  straight.”  Mat.  iii:  3.  And  of  him  the  Savior 
said : “This  is  Elias,  (Elijah)  which  was  for  to  come.” 
Mat.  xi:  14.  And  again:  “But  I say  unto  you,  that  Elias 
(Elijah)  is  come  already,  and  they  (the  Jews)  knew  him 
not,  but  have  done  unto  him  whatsoever  they  listed.”  Ib. 
xvii:  II.  There  was  a man  sent  from  God,  whose  name 


38 


ORIGIN  OF  MAN. 


was  John,”  etc.  John  i:  5,  et  seq.  See,  for  more  of  this, 
“ War  in  Heaven,"  page  192. 

Jesus  Christ,  who  was  before  known  as  Michael  the  Arch- 
angel, (as  we  have  seen,)  was  also“  sent  from  God”  into 
this  world,  and  entered  into  a human  body,  prepared  ex- 
pressly for  him,  (as  already  shown)  and  lived  in  this  world 
as  a man.  He  was  crucified — his  spirit  separated  from  his 
body  ; arose  from  the  dead — his  spirit  having  entered  his 
body  again  ; and  he  returned  to  heaven.  Here  we  have 
two  cases,  one  of  John  the  Baptist,  and  the  other  of  Jesus 
Christ,  in  which  pre-existent  spirits  are  known  to  have  en- 
tered infant  bodies,  and  which  bodies  aftenvards  grew  to 
full  maturity,  just  as  others  do.  (Should  any  one  doubt, 
however,  the  separate  existence  of  God  the  Son  from  Je- 
hovah the  Father,  such  skeptic  is  invited  to  read  the  sev- 
enteenth chapter  of  John,  and  to  construe  it  just  as  he 
would  any  other  writing,  the  meaning  of  which  he  really 
wants  to  get,  and  all  such  doubt  will  be  removed.  There 
is  no  one  fact  more  clearly  taught  in  the  whole  Bible  than 
is  that  important  one.) 

It  may  be  difficult  to  understand  how  a full  grown  spirit 
can  enter  an  infant  body,  and  grow  up  with  it,  to  its  orig- 
inal size,  form  and  features  again.  We  know  but  little  of 
the  consistence  or  nature  of  the  spiritual  body,"  of  which 
St.  Paul  repeatedly  speaks  ; but  if  we  admit  that  it  is  highly 
elastic,  and  capable  of  compression  to  a comparativ'ely  very 
small  size,  (as  we  have  good  reason  to  believe  that  it  is,) 
much  of  that  difficulty  will  be  removed.  Be  that  as  it  may, 
we  have  to  believe  that  two  cases  are  on  record,  in  each  of 
which  mature  spirits  have  entered  infant  bodies  and  grown 
up  with  them,  or  I'eject  the  authority  on  which  our  holy 
religion  was  based  and  now  stands ! 

Is  not  this  true  ? The  wise  man  has  said  ; “ The  thing 

that  hath  been,  it  is  that  which  shall  be ; and  that  which 
is  done,  is  that  which  shall  be  done ; and  there  is  no  nezu 


ORIGIN  OF  MAN. 


39 


thing  under  the  sun."  Eccl.  i:  9.  Has  this  scripture  no 
meaning?  If  you  so  think,  read  the  context,  and  bear  in 
mind  that  angelic  spirits  and  spirits  of  deceased  men  both 
look  alike  and  like  men,  and  have  often  been  mistaken  for 
men.  Of  this  we  have  sufficient  evidence  in  the  Old  Tes- 
tament Scriptures,  as  to  angelic  spirits,  and  in  the  spirit 
which  appeared  to  St.  John  in  Patinos,  we  have  an  instance 
of  the  appearance  of  dead  men,  for  he  informed  that  good 
old  apostle  himself  that  he  was  one  of  the  old  prophets, 
sent  by  Jesus  Christ  and  as  his  messenger.  Rev.  xix : 10 
and  xxii:  9-16. 

It  may  be  well,  to  call  attention  here,  to  certain  forms  of 
expression  which  are  frequently  found  in  the  Kble,  but 
mostly  in  the  Old  Testament,  some  of  which  have  been 
cited  already,  but  for  a different  purpose,  and  which  might 
mislead  the  casual  reader,  and  particularly  those  who  are 
not  aware  of  the  views  entertained  by  all  ancient  writers 
as  to  the  origin  and  nature  of  the  “spirit  which  is  in  man.” 
In  Gen.  xvii:  19,  we  learn  that  God  said  to  Abraham  of 
Isaac,  “I  will  establish  my  covenant  with  him,  for  an  ever- 
lasting covenant,  and  with  his  seed  after  him.  ” The  prophet 
Nathan,  in  delivering  his  message  from  God  to  King 
David,  said:  “And  when  thy  days  are  fulfilled,  and  thou 
shalt  sleep  with  thy  fathers,  I will  set  up  thy  seed  after 
thee,  which  shall  proceed  out  of  thy  bowels,  and  will  establish 
his  kingdom.  II  Samuel  vii:  12.  Again,  “The  Lord  hath 
sworn  in  truth  unto  David ; he  will  not  turn  from  it ; of 
the  fruit  of  thy  body  will  I set  upon  thy  throne.  ” Ps.  cxxxii : 
II.  Now,  by  reference  to  Acts  ii:  30,  and  Rom.  i:  3,  you 
will  find  that  all  these  prophecies  had  reference  to  the 
bodies  and  not  the  spirits  of  Isaac,  David,  and  the  Savior. 
And  in  Rom.  iv:  i,  you  may  learn  that  St.  Paul  considered 
himself  and  other  Jews,  as  the  children  of  Abraham 
only,  “as  pertaining  to  the  flesh.”  Should  it  be  desired 
to  know  in  what  sense  that  apostle  understood  other  Jews 


40 


ORIGIN  OF-  MAN. 


as  his  relations,  you  can  find  that  he  esteemed  them  only 
as  his  “brethren,  kinsmen  according  to  the  flesh,”  by  read- 
ing Rom.  ix:  3-5.  All  such  terms  and  expressions  of 
the  Old  Testament  writers  are  fully  explained  in  the  New 
Testament.  And  we  also  learn  there  that  we  all  have  tu'o 
fathers.  St.  Paul  says:  “Furthermore,  we  have  had  fath- 
ers of  our  flesh  which  corrected  us,  and  we  gave  them  rev- 
erence ; shall  we  not  much  rather  be  in  subjection  unto  the 
Father  of  oar  spirits  dindWwe."  Heb.  xii;  9. 

That  the  soul  can  live  and  has  lived  without  the  body, 
is  manifest  from  i Kings  xvii : 21-22:  (“and  the  soul  of 
the  child  came  into  him  again,  and  he  revived ;”)  and  Luke 
viii:  55:  (the  case  of  Jairus’  daughter,  “and  her  spirit 
came  again,”  etc.) 

‘ ‘ There  was  a man  sent  from  God  whose  name  was  John.  ” 
He  came  to  bear  witness  of  “ the  true  light  which  lighteth 
every  man  that  cometh  into  the  world.”  John  i:  6-9.  As 
we  have  seen,  that  was  Elijah  the  prophet,  who  came  to 
earth  again  to  prepare  the  way  of  the  Lord.  Pie  came 
from  where  God  is,  and  Christ  was,  to  this  world.  “The 
true  light  lighteth  every  man  that  cometh  into  the  world.” 
Does  not  this  look  very  much  like  we  all  came  from  some- 
where into  this  life  ? 

Read  the  eighth  chapter  of  John,  beginning  at  the 
twelfth  verse,  and  reflect  upon  what  you  read.  Jesus  said 
to  certain  Jews:  “Ye  are  from  beneath;  I am  from  above; 
ye  are  of  this  world;  I am  not  of  this  world.”  Thus  we 
are  informed  that  Christ  came  here  from  above,  and  that  we 
came  from  beneath,  and  that  he  and  those  to  whom  he  ad- 
dressed his  remarks  had  met  here.  Again,  “I  speak  that 
which  I have  seen  with  my  P'ather;  and  y&  do  that  which 
ye  have  seen  with  your  father.”  And  lastly,  “Ye  are  of 
your  father,  the  devil.” 

Reader,  what  have  you  seen  your  father,  the  dezil  do, 
since  you  have  been  in  your  fleshly  tabernacle?  You  must 


ORIGIN  OF  MAN. 


41 


have  seen  him  do  something,  at  sometime  and  somewhere, 
if  what  the  Savior  said  is  true.  Is  not  that  clear?  If  you 
confess  that  what  he  said  is  true,  you  thereby  admit  that 
you’  and  Satan  are  old  acquaintances,  and  that  you  have 
long  been  his  disciple  ! Is  not  this  true  ? Do  not  reject 
these  solemn  truths,  as  soitr  grapes !”  Remember,  that 
the  most  valuable  medicines  for  the  sick,  are  often  quite 
disagreeable  to  the  taste.  And  Dr.  Paul  has  prescribed 
“belief  of  the  tiaith,”  as  the  only  safe  and  reliable  remedy 
for  ailments  of  the  soul.  Try  it. 

Is  not  the  evidence  resulting,  as  the  most  natural  and 
reasonable  conclusion,  from  the  scriptures  quoted  as  afford- 
ing inferential  proof  of  our  identity  with  the  fallen  angels, 
sufficient  to  produce  a strong  presumption,  in  favor  of  this 
belief?  Is  not  such  impression  greatly  confirmed,  by  the 
fact  that  the  inspired  writers  all  believed  in  the  pre-exist 
ence  of  the  soul  ? Is  not  such  presumption,  so  confirmed, 
sufficient  to  require  all  who  admit  the  inspiration  of  the 
Bible  to  believe  that  what  the  Angel  of  God  told  St.  John 
in  Patmos  is  trne,  and  true  in  its  plain,  most  natural  and 
literal  interpretation?  I think  so ; what  do  you  say,  reader? 

To  enable  every  anxious  inquirer  after  truth  to  remove 
any  doubt  which  may  yet  linger  on  the  mind  as  to  our 
origin,  it  is  further  remarked,  ist.  That  no  evidence  can  be 
found  in  God’s  word  in  support  of  either  one  or  the  other 
of  the  popular  theories  of  the  soul.  2d.  That  not  more  than 
one  text  of  Scripture  in  fifty,  which  tends  directly  to  sus- 
tain the  proposition  that  we  are  of  Satan’s  expelled  follow- 
ers, has  been  cited  in  this  pamphlet.  And  for  proof  of 
this,  the  reader  is  referred  to  the  parables  of  our  Savior 
generally,  and  particularly  to  those  recorded  in  Luke  xv; 
and  3.  That,  excluding  the  plain  revelation  of  that  fact,  and 
every  other  scripture  above  quoted  to  support  it,  there  is 
far  more  scriptural  evidence  to  sustain  this  theory  of  our 
being  than  any  other.  For  verily  the  Bible  nowhere  con- 
tradicts itself! 


42 


ORIGIN  OF  MAN. 


And  lastly,  for  the  benefit  of  any  who  may  still  prefer  to 
adhere  to  the  modern  theory— that  the  soul  is  created  at 
the  time  the  body  is  born ; or  to  the  other — that  the  soul 
and  body  came  into  being  together  just  so!  — all  kich 
teachers  and  thinkers  are  affectionately  referred,  for  grave 
refiection,  to  the  first  eight  verses  of  the  third  chapter  of 
St.  Paul’s  second  letter  to  Timothy.  It  is  a dangerous 
thing  to  resist  the  truth.'' 


ORIGIN  OF  MAN. 


43 


CONCLUSION. 

This  writing  has  already  drawn  itself  out  far  beyond  my 
intention,  and  must  be  cut  off  speedily.  It  is  now  but  a 
very  imperfect  Coinpcndiiun"  of  the  argument,  and  on 
the  main  question  alone,  which  is  discussed  in  the  original 
work.  Those  who  may  so  desire,  can  find  there  at  least, 
a brief  consideration  of  all  collateral  questions,  and  which 
are  necessarily  connected  with  and  grow  out  of  the  chief 
one,  so  as  to  constitute  an  intelligible  system.  For  in- 
stance, such  questions  are  noticed  in  that  book  as  relate 
to  the  existence  of  God;  authenticity  of  the  Bible;  a fu- 
ture state  ; eternal  retribution  ; salvation  of  infants  ; the 
object  and  extent  of  revelation  ; why  not  better  under- 
stood ; rules  for  construction  ; when  and  for  what  purpose 
this  world  was  made;  the  divinity  of  Jesus  Christ,  etc. 

RESUME. 

What  is  man — whence  his  origin? 

Long  has  been  a mooted  question. 

Some  say  he  is  only  a brute. 

By  nature  chanced — her  noisiest  fruit. 

The  Pope  says  he’s  God’s  perfect  work, 

Created  when  he  body  took. 

No,  quoth  the  Protestant,  by  heaven ! 

The  soul  and  body  both  are  given 
From  parents  vile,  who  fell  in  Eden  ; 

As  man’s  depravity  has  proven. 

Thus  stood  the  quarrel  when  the  book 
Of  inspiration  first  we  took. 

And  looking  through  her  pages  bright. 

The  startling  fact  is  brought  to  light — 

That  we  were  once  angels  celestial. 

For  sinning  there,  found  home  terrestrial, 

And,  after  suffring  many  evils, 

Have  been  put  here  in  earthen  vessels  ; 

And  all  are  either,  (in  these  travels,) 

Clean  washed,  unwashed,  or  whitewashed  devils ! 


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■W 


DARWINIANISM  AND  SPIRITUALISM. 


It  was  intended  to  give  more  space  in  this  pamphlet  to 
the  above  twin  systems,  but  it  is  feared  that  these  pages 
have  ahead}"  become  too  many  to  secure  a general  read- 
ing on  a subject  so  stale,  and  which  is  so  lightly  esteemed 
in  this  fast  age,  as  are  all  such  as  relate  to  things  of  no  more 
practical  value  than  a future  life! 

I must,  therefore,  content  myself,  for  the  present,  with 
the  observations  and  authorities  which  follow,  and  await 
some  future  occasion  to  notice  more  fully  these  fascinating 
delusions  of  the  devil. 

The  theoiy  of  our  being,  which  is  advocated  in  War  in 
Heaven,  is,  (as  all  thoughtful  readers  must  observe,)  a com- 
plete refutation  of  the  ingenious  system  of  ruolution,  as  held 
and  advocated  by  Darwin,  Huxley,  and  others,  as  well  as 
of  spiritualism,  also,  which  rests  chiefly  upon  it,  to  all  who 
will  accept  the  truth  as  revealed  in  the  Bible.  And  that, 
too,  without  having  made  any  direct  reference  to  either  in 
that  work.  For  in  that  we  have  a reasonable  and  scrip- 
tural answer  to  each  of  the  two  important  questions:  “What 
is  man  ? ” and : ‘ ‘ Why  are  Ave  here  ? ” On  these  two  ques- 
tions, “hang  all  the  law  and  the  prophets.” 

To  the 'trained  mind  who  clear!}’  sees. 

In  the  light  of  Revelation, 

What  he  now  is — what  he  has  been — 

Error  seems  infatuation. 

Before  the  discerning  eye  of  such  an  one,  all  the  beauti- 
ful theories  of  the  learned  naturalist  Avhich  conflict  with 
the  truth  as  revealed  in  God’s  Word,  and  eveiy  other  in- 
fidel system,  must  dissolve  and  melt  away,  as  would  the 
driv^en  snows  of  December  beneath  an  August  sun. 

If  all  the  wonderful  demonstrations  are  made,  and  the 


46 


DARWINIANISM  AND  SPIRITUALISM. 


mysterious  things  accomplished,  as  claimed  by  devotees  of 
spiritualism  and  believed  by  many  people  of  good  judg- 
ment, in  other  respects  at  least,  we  have  in  such  miracu- 
lous workings  another  incontrovertible  evidence  of  the 
truth  of  Revelation.  And  whether  such  strange  things  are 
really  now  being  done  or  not,  the  writer  has  no  opinion  to 
offer  which  would  be  of  any  considerable  value  to  others, 
and  none,  therefore,  is  given  here. 

But  “if  these  things  be  so,”  we  have  in  that  fact  not 
only  proof  conclusive  of  the  divinity  of  Jesus  Christ,  but 
we  learn,  therefrom  also,  that  we  are  now  in  that  last  and 
wicked  age,  which  he  foretold  should  precede  the  end  of 
time  and  temporal  things. 

It  is  therefore  only  important  with  a view  to  learning,  as 
nearly  as  practicable,  how  long  the  present  order  of  things 
will  continue  with  our  world — to  know  whether  the  spirit- 
ual manifestations,  which  it  is  said  and  by  many  believed 
to  be  real,  are  such  ; or  whether  they  are  mere  delusions, 
the  result  of  mere  artifice  and  trickery,  as  others  insist. 

For,  whether  such  deceivers  have  already  been  turned 
loose  among  us  or  not,  it  is  certain  that,  if  it  has  not  it 
will  be  done  before  and  near  the  end  of  time.  Few  events, 
if  any,  have  been  more  clearly  foretold.  His  disciples 
asked  the  Savior  when  “and  what  shall  be  the  sign  of  Thy 
coming  and  of  the  end  of  the  world?”  He  told  them  of 
many  things  which  should  previously  transpire,  and  con- 
tinuing, said:  “And  many  false  prophets  (teachers)  shall 
rise,  and  shall  deceive  many” — “and  shall  show 
and  wonders ; insomuch  that,  if  it  were  possible,  they  would 
deceive  the  very  elect, ” etc. — Matt,  xxiv:  3-11-24.  See 
also  Rev.  xiii:  13-14.  St.  John  warns  us:  “Beloved,  be- 
lieve not  every  spirit,  but  try  the  spirits.”  “ Every  spirit 
that  confesseth  not  that  Jesus  Chri.st  is  come  in  the  flesh 
is  not  of  God.”— I John  iv:  i-,2-3.  Therefore,  all  spirits 
that  deny  Christ,  and  the  things  taught  b)’  him,  as  we 


DARWINIANISM  AND  SPIRITUALISM. 


47 


must  understand,  are  sent  by  the  devil.  Are  not  depart- 
ed spirits  of  bad  men  employed  to  deceive  the  living? 

But  more  of  this:  “Now  the  spirit  speaketh  expressly, 
that  in  the  latter  times,  some  shall  depart  from  the  faith, 
giving  heed  to  sedneing  spirits,  and  doctrines  of  devils.” — 
I Tim.  iv:  I.  In  i Thess.  ii:  i to  I2,  St.  Paul  gives  us 
the  same  warning,  but  more  fully,  and  advises  us  also,  both 
of  the  danger  to  which  we  are  exposed  in  this  regard,  and 
of  the  reasons  why  the  enemy  is  able  to  deceive  us,  or 
rather  zvhat  class  of  people  he  can  so  deceive  and  why. 
He  says : ‘ ‘ Let  no  man  deceive  you  by  any  means.  ” “For 
the  mystery  of  iniquity  doth  already  work : only  he  who 
now  letteth  will  let  (hinder)  until  he  be  taken  out  of  the 
way,  and  then  shall  that  Wicked  be  revealed” — “Even 
him,  whose  coming  is  after  the  working  of  Satan,  zvith  all 
poiucr  and  signs  and  fying  zvonders,  and  with  all  deceivable- 
ness  of  unrighteousness  in  them  that  perish ; because  they 
received  not  the  love  of  the  truth,  that  they  might  be  saved. 
And  for  this  ca7isc,  God  shall  send  them  strong  delusion, 
that  they  should  believe  a lie ; that  they  all  might  be 
damned  who  believe  not  the  truth,  but  had  pleasure  in  un- 
righteousness. ” 

Are  men  and  women  to  be  lost  forever  on  account  of 
erroneous  belief?  Does  not  this  passage  look  very  much 
that  way?  King  Solomon,  who  is  generally  thought  to 
have  been  a pretty  good  judge  in  such  matters,  appears  to 
have  been  decidedly  of  that  opinion  also : See  Prov.  xvi : 
2,  and  xxi:  2:  “What  I say  unto  you,  I say  unto  all: 
Watch!” 

For  further  comment  on  these  Scriptures,  all  mu.st  be 
left  to  themselves,  under  the  direction  of  the  Holy  Spirit, 
and  whose  unerring  instructions  all  can  have  who  will  in- 
voke such  aid,  in  the  fear  of  God  and  in  love  of  the  U'uth. 


' : . ';  ■. 

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